





Book /sS- £>3 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 

















THE 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY, 

COMPRISING 

A DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTH, 

1 EXHIBITING 

ITS RELATION TO THE HEAVENLY BODIES, 

ITS PHYSICAL STRUCTURE, 

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF EACH COUNTRY, 

AND 

VHE INDUSTRY, COMMERCE, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, AND 
CIVIL AND SOCIAL STATE OF ALL NATIONS. 


ILLUSTRATED BY NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS, 

REPRESENTING THE MOST REMARKABLE OBJECTS OF NATURE 
AND ART IN EVERY REGION OF THE GLOBE. 

ON THE PLAN OF 

Murray’s encyclopaedia of geography. 

ADAPTED TO THE USE OF FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. 


JBY THOMAS T. SMILEY, A.M., M.D. 


If 

HARTFORD: 

BELKNAP & HAMMERSLY; 

PHILADELPHIA: 

GRIGG & ELLIOT; 

ID SOLD BY BOOKSELLERS GENERALLY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. 

1838 . 

£ 








Ektehed according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by 
Thomas T. Smiley, 

in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern District of 
Pennsylvania, 



-V 


PREFACE. 


The value and importance of the study of Geography are so ob- 
’' .us as to require little illustration. Nothing can be more interest- 
i r to man, or can tend more to gratify a laudable thirst for know- 
1 Ige, than a survey of the earth he inhabits, peopled as it is by 
bel gs of the same nature with himself, and filled with so many 
c ijects which excite the deepest interest. To visit and observe fo¬ 
ri ign countries is an object of general desire, and forms one of the 
r> ost effectual means for enlarging and enlightening the human mind. 
The wish of visiting foreign countries, however, can be gratified only 
to a very limited extent, except in the case of a few individuals, and 
m none can embrace more than a small portion of the vast variety of 
objects which the earth comprises. This defect, however, of personal 
. c’ nervation may be, in a great measure, supplied by collecting the 
n. t irts and narratives of those intelligent travellers who have explored 
and described its various regions, ana forming out of them a general 
description of the world ana its inhabitants. 

Geographical works have always possessed a peculiar attraction; 
and even in ancient times, when the extent of the known world, and 
the information with respect to the inhabitants and productions of its 
remote regions, were so much more limited, the geographical descrip¬ 
tions rank among the most valuable productions of the classic ages; 
but in modern times, and particularly in the present age, geography 
has assumed a much more permanent place among the departments 
of human knowledge. The discovery of America in the fifteenth 
century awakened a spirit of enterprise, and a desire to explore un¬ 
known regions, that have continued to gain new strength. During 
the last half century, especially, the most civilized nations have been 
contending with each other for the glory of discovery; and there is 
now scarcely a shore, however remote, or the interior of a country, 
however barbarous or difficult, which has not been visited and de- 
; scribed. 

The extensive discoveries thus recently made have thrown a won¬ 
derful light on the structure and productions of the earth, and afforded 
large contributions to all the departments of natural history. They 
have also displayed man in every condition, from the highest refine¬ 
ment of civilized society to the most abject condition of savage life. 
These representations are not only interesting in themselves, but 
throw light on the history of past ages. Communities are still found 
exactly similar to those described in the earliest records of antiquity. 
The tent of the Arab sheik differs little from that which Abraham 
pitched on the plains of Mamre; and many of the Tartar tribes are a 
people exactly similar to those who roamed in early ages over the 
plains of Scythia. 




4 


PREFACE. 


Besides the gratification thus afforded to liberal curiosity, a know¬ 
ledge of the remotest regions has become an object of the utmost 
practical importance. Regions the most distant to which a ship can 
sail are constantly visited by all commercial nations, and the manufac¬ 
turer labours to supply the markets of countries the very existence of 
which, fifty years ago, was unknown; while the circumnavigation of 
the globe, once considered as conferring immortal honour on the most 
daring navigators, has become an ordinary trading voyage. A know¬ 
ledge of geography, therefore, has become a necessary qualification 
for the pursuits of commerce and industry, and for much of the ordi¬ 
nary and current business of life. 

While the great utility of the science of geography is thus rendered 
evident in facilitating the great interests of civilized society, it is 
gratifying to find that it has been cultivated with a zeal equal to its 
importance. Within a few years past, several geographical works, 
compiled with great labour, and exhibiting extensive researches into 
all the branches connected with the subject, have made their appear¬ 
ance, and enjoyed a well-merited celebrity. But, notwithstanding 
the great merit of some of these works, the Encyclopaedia of Geo¬ 
graphy, by Mr. Murray of Edinburgh, recently published, far sur¬ 
passes every other work of this kina which has ever appeared. In 
making it, therefore, the basis of an elementary treatise, and adapt¬ 
ing a work of such acknowledged excellence to the purposes of edu¬ 
cation, the author indulges the belief that he is conferring an essential 
and, he hopes, a permanent benefit on not a few of those who will 
shortly be among the most active in the busy scenes of life. 

The numerous engravings which have been introduced are by no 
means intended for mere ornament, but embrace a great number of the 
leading objects of nature and art, which, it is believed, cannot fail to 
add greatly to the interest and utility of the work. In the mechanical 
execution of them, as well as the maps for the Atlas to accompany 
the work, no pains or expense has been spared; and the style in 
which they have been executed will, it is hoped, be found fully to 
correspond with the character of the work in other respects. 

In adapting the details of the work to the purposes of practical in¬ 
struction, that course has been pursued which appeared to be best 
calculated to facilitate the progress of the student, and care has been 
taken to render available whatever the light of experience has proved 
to be best calculated for the promotion of that object. It is hoped, 
therefore, that the work will be of essential service to those who are 
desirous to obtain an adequate knowledge of this very important as 
well as pleasing science. 





OBSERVATIONS TO TEACHERS. 


Part First, comprising the principles of geography, may be omitted 
by young pupils, or by those whose time or opportunity is too limited 
to study more than those parts which treat of descriptive geography. 
The careful reading of Part I., either in classes or otherwise, is re¬ 
commended to those who are unable, from any cause, to study it more 
thoroughly. The lessons which precede Part II. are a compen¬ 
dium of some of the most important portions of Part I., and should 
always be carefully studied before entering on the succeeding part of 
the work, whether Part I. has been previously studied or not. 

The careful study of the maps is of the utmost importance. To fa¬ 
cilitate this object, a great number of questions has been introduced; 
but the careful and judicious teacher will perceive the advantage of 
proposing many questions, as the pupil advances, which it would not 
be possible to present in a work oi this kind. 

Iii order to acquire the requisite facility of reference to the maps, it 
would often be found advantageous for the pupil to go through the 
book for the first time, attending only to the questions on the maps, 
without reference to the descriptive parts of the work. The pupil 
will then be prepared to study the work thoroughly, with pleasure and 
advantage. The learner may be required to recite, either with or 
without the atlas before him, according to the degree of facility which 
has been acquired of prompt reference to the maps. 

In order to impress a knowledge of the maps thoroughly on the 
mind, the student should often be required to draw the outline of 
countries, and put in some of the most important features, such as 
mountains, rivers, and cities, from memory. By this exercise the im¬ 
mediate object will not only be gained, but the memory and judgment 
will also be greatly cultivated and improved. 

As the numerous engravings which have been introduced are not in¬ 
tended for mere ornament, the pupil should be required to describe 
each of them as they are presented. The beautiful views of objects, 
both of nature and art, contained in the work, with the extensive se¬ 
lection of rare and curious plants and animals, all of which are repre¬ 
sented as near to nature as art can make them, will render such an ex¬ 
ercise at once pleasant and instructive. 

Perhaps there is no science, the study of which produces such a 
rapid developement of the youthful intellect, as that of geography. A 
knowledge of the science immediately under consideration, is, of 
course, the primary object in studying it, but the extraordinary influ¬ 
ence it possesses in developing the intellectual faculties, and prepar¬ 
ing the mind for more abstruse and difficult studies, is not of less im¬ 
portance. 










ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY 


INTRODUCTION. 


Geography consists in the description and delineation of the Earth. 
It considers that planet in respect to its form, its connexion with other 
bodies in the universe, the various parts into which it is divided, and 
the objects with which each is respectively filled. 

The First Part comprises the principles of the science. These are, 

I. Mathematical principles, or those which relate to the form of the 
earth, its movements, its place in the Solar System, the great circles by 
which it is divided, and the delineation of its surface on a map. 

II. Physical principles, or those which treat of the substances which 
cover the eartfr s surface; the elements which compose and surround 
it; rock, earth, water, air, as they appear under the various forms of 
mountain, plain, river, sea, and all tne changing phenomena of the at¬ 
mosphere. 

III. Geography may be considered in relation to other objects and 
sciences. 1. To Zoology, or the distribution of animals over the globe. 
2. To Botany, or the diffusion of vegetable productions. 3. To the 
human race, and the various branches into which it has been formed, 
considered in relation to numbers, wealth, political union, social, intel¬ 
lectual, and moral condition. 

The Second Part consists of Descriptive Geography, and considers 
the subject in detail, as it applies to the various quarters and countries 
into which the world is divided; this part will naturally divide itself 
into five general heads: 1. America. 2. Europe. 3. Asia. 4. Af¬ 

rica. 5. Australia. 


What is geography ? In what respects does it consider our planet ? What 
does the first part of the work embrace ? Which are the mathematical prin¬ 
ciples ? Which are the physical principles ? YVhat does the third division 
of the principles of geography embrace ? What does descriptive geography 
embrace ? Which are the five general heads of descriptive geography ? 





GENERAL VIEW. 


7 


PART FIRST. 


1. GENERAL VIEW. 

The succession of day and night brings under our notice the sun, 
the moon, and the stars, which appear like points on the concave sur¬ 
face of the. heavens. 

The apparent motion of the earth about a fixed point in the northern 
quarter oi the sky, is familiar to every one. 

If we change our position on the earth, by going al ways south, this 
fixed point appears to descend, and at last sinks below the horizon. 

We then perceive that there is another fixed point in the southern 
region of the heavens, exactly opposite the first, about which the diur¬ 
nal motion is also performed. These two points are the north and 
south, or Arctic and Antarctic poles of the heavens. 

To a spectator in any place on the earth, the whole system of hea¬ 
venly bodies appears as if placed on the surface of a concave sphere, 
the centre of which is the place where he stands. 

This sphere appears to Tevolve daily on an ideal line, which passes 
through the poles of the heavens, and is called the Axis of the world. 

Besides the diurnal, or daily motions of the heavenly bodies, which 
is common to them all, some of them have motions peculiar to them¬ 
selves, by which they change their places with respect to each other. 

Thus we see the moon in about a month describe a circle quite round 
the heavens from west to east. The sun also appears to change his 
position daily, and to go round the heavens once in a year. 

From the remotest antiquity, five stars, called planets, had been ob¬ 
served to change their position; and, in modern times, five others have 
been discovered. They are named Mercury, Venus, Mars, Vesta, 
Juno, Ceres, Pallas, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. 

There are other luminous bodies, called comets, which are seen for 
a short time, and afterwards disappear. Their number is not known, 
but probably amounts to several thousand. 

Besides the sun, moon, planets, and comets, there are other lumi¬ 
nous bodies visible every clear night, which always have the same 
position with respect to each other, and are therefore called fixed stars. 

All the heavenly bodies which this general survey has brought un¬ 
der our notice, with their motions, form the subject of Astronomy, the 
most extensive of all the natural sciences. 

What does the succession of day and night brh.g under our notice ? What 
of the apparent motion of the earth ? What occurs if we change our position 
on the earth ? What do we then perceive ? What are these two points called ? 
What appears to a spectator on any point of the earth ? On what does this 
sphere appear to revolve ? What of the motions of the heavenly bodies ? What 
motions of the sun and moon ? What had been observed respecting the planets ? 
What other luminous bodies ? What of the fixed stars ? What forms the sub¬ 
ject of astronomy f 




8 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


2. THE HEAVENS 

AS SEEN THROUGH THE TELESCOPE. 

The number of stars visible to the naked eye is about three thou¬ 
sand, which appear scattered over the concave 
surface of the heavens. 

The ancients imagined the figures of various 
animals and personages of their mythology 
to be traced on this concave surface. These 
figures they called Constellations, and consi¬ 
dered a group of stars to belong to each. 

The use of the* telescope has greatly in¬ 
creased the number of visible stars, and also 
proved that some which appear single, in reali¬ 
ty consist of two, three, and even four stars, 
extremely close together. 

Venus, Fig. 1. Nebulai, or luminous spots, are seen in dif¬ 

ferent parts of the heavens, of which the Ga¬ 
laxy, or milky way, is the most remarkable. 
The telescope shows that this appearance is 
produced by an immense number of stars. 

Continued observation has proved that the 
fixed stars are not altogether exempt from 
change. Several stars have disappeared, and 
some not known to the ancients are now visible. 

Mercury and Venus, [Fig. 1,] as they re¬ 
volve round the sun, exhibit changes like the 
moon, while the faces of all the other planets 
are nearly circular. 

Jupiter, Fig. 2. Mars sometimes has a gibbous appearance, 

like the moon, when nearly full, and is 
known by his fiery red colour. 

Certain spots appear on the sun, and the 
four planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Sa¬ 
turn; and Jupiter [Fig. 2] is marked by 
several parallel belts, or stripes. 

Jupiter is attended by four small stars, 
which are seen sometimes on the same side, 
and sometimes on opposite sides of the 
planet. 

The planet Saturn [Fig. 3] is also at¬ 
tended by seven, and Uranus by six little 
Saturn, Fig. 3. stars, called satellites, or secondary planets. 

Saturn is also surrounded by a circular ring. 

IIow many stars are visible to the naked eye ? What of the constellations ? 
What of the use of the telescope ? What are nebulae p Are the fixed stars en¬ 
tirely exempt from change P What changes of Mercury and Venus P Of Mars p 
What appear on the sun and planets p What attends Jupiter p Saturn p 














THE EARTH. 

3. THE EARTH. 


9 


The earth [Fig. 4] is 
a round body isolated in 
space, as is proved by the 
following facts. 

To an observer who 
travels from the north 
towards the south, stars 
which at their greatest 
elevation appeared at the 
place where he set out 
south of the point directly 
over head, now appear to 
the north of that point. 

This proves that his 
path on the surface of the 
earth has not been a straight line, but a curve, of which the convexity 
is turned towards the sky. 

The convexity of the earth is apparent to a spectator observing a 
ship leaving the shore. 

At first the lower parts 
of the ship disappear, 
then the more elevated, 
and at last the highest 
parts of the masts sink 
into the horizon, because 
the sight is interrupted 
by the curved surface of 
the ocean, as represented 
in Fig. 5. 

In like manner, when 
' two ships at sea meet Convexity of the Earth, Fig. 5. 

each other, the navigators 
in each see at first the up¬ 
per part of the rigging of the opposite vessel, and as the distance be¬ 
comes less the body of each vessel comes gradually into view. 

That the horizon of the sea, which to the eye terminates its surface, 
is only an apparent limit, is evident from the fact that as we advance 
towards it we find it recede. 

This uniformly happens to the navigator, and by continuing to sail 
in the same direction he will at last arrive at the same port from which 
he set out, having sailed round the globe. 

In shape the earth differs but little from a globe, or sphere of 7916 
miles in diameter, and consequently is about 24,870 miles in circum¬ 
ference. 

What is the earth ? What appears to an observer who travels from the north 
to the south ? What does this prove ? What other proof? What appears when 
two ships meet each other at sea ? Is the horizon at sea a real or only an appa¬ 
rent limit? What happens to the navigator who continues to sail in the same 




The Earth, Fig. 4. 










10 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Every circle is supposed to be divided into 360 equal parts, called 
degrees, and each degree into 60 equal parts, called minutes. A de¬ 
gree of a circle, therefore, on any part of the earth’s surface, whose 
centre is the same with that of the earth, will be a little more than 69 
miles and a minute, about 1^ mile. 

4. DEFINITIONS. 

The motions of the heavenly bodies being in appearance all per¬ 
formed on a sphere, of which the eye of the spectator is the centre, it 
has been found expedient to suppose certain circles to be traced on 
this sphere, to which also the heavenly bodies in space are referred. 

A great circle of the sphere is that whose plane passes through its 
centre, and all others are small circles. 

A circle of the celestial sphere, whose plane passes through the 
centre of the earth, and is perpendicular to the axis, is called the Equa¬ 
tor of the earth, or Equinoctial. 

A circle whose plane passes through the poles, is called the Meri¬ 
dian, and the section of the earth’s surface made by this plane, is 
called the meridian of all the places through which it passes. 

We know by observation that any heavy body let fall from a point 
above the earth will descend in a straight line. This line is called the 
direction of gravity. 

If a line in the direction of gravity, at any point on the earth’s sur¬ 
face, be produced upwards and downwards, this line, called a vertical, 
will marie on the celestial sphere two points, the one above called the 
Zenith, and the other below called the Nadir. 

A plane conceived to pass through any place on the earth’s surface, 
at right angles to the lino of gravity, joining the zenith and nadir, will, 
when extended to the heavens, meet the sphere in a circle, which is 
the Horizon of that place. 

The plane of the horizon of any place touches the earth’s surface, 
and divides the whole expanse of the heavens into two Hemispheres, 
one of which, that above the horizon, is visible, and the other, that be¬ 
low the horizon, is invisible. 

Circles, whose planes pass through the zenith and nadir of any 
place, are called vertical circles. The meridian is of course a vertical 
circle, and. the vertical circle, whose plane is perpendicular to the 
meridian, is called the prime vertical. 

The meridian cuts the horizon in the north and south points, and the 
prime vertical cuts it in the east and west. These four points, which 
divide the horizon into four equal parts, are called Cardinal points. 

Between the cardinal points of the horizon there are four others, 

direction ? What is the shape and size of the earth ? How is every circle sup¬ 
posed to be divided ? 

Why do we suppose certain circles to be traced on the sphere ? What is a 
great circle ? What is the equator of the earth ? What is the meridian ? What 
of the direction of gravity ? If a line in the direction of gravity is produced 
upwards and downwards, what points are marked ? What is the horizon of a 
place ? What results from the plane of the horizon touching the earth’s sur- 
2 lace ? What are vertical circles ? In what points does the meridian cut the 


ROTATION OF THE SUN, MOON, AND PLANETS. II 

north-east, south-east, south-west, north-west, and each of these is 
again subdivided, making thirty-two points in all. 

The mariner’s compass [Fig. 7] consists 
of a card, having the points of the horizon 
marked on the border which surrounds it, 
and a magnetized needle balanced on a pivot, 
which always points to the north. 

The mysterious property which the mag¬ 
net possesses of always pointing to the north, 
enables the mariner to proceed with confi¬ 
dence and certainty across the wide ocean 
from one country to another. 

The sun rises in the east and sets in the _ ... 

west part of the heavens. When, therefore, Mariners’ Compass, Fig. 7 . 
the face is turned towards the north, the east 

is on the right hand, the west on the left hand, and the south behind. 

If the meridian circle pass through the zenith of any place, the space 
intercepted between the zenith and equator is the Latitude of that place; 
therefore the latitude of a place is its distance from the equator. 

Assuming any meridian as the first meridian, the distance on the 
equator between it and any other place is the meridian, or Longitude, 
of that place; therefore longitude is the distance of any place east or 
west of another place. 

The first meridian is usually fixed at some remarkable place or city, 
as London, Paris, Washington City. 



5. ROTATION OF THE SUN, MOON, AND PLANETS. 

From the existence of spots passing across the surface or disc of 
the sun, we are led to conclude that the sun rotates on its axis from 
west to east, in about twenty-five daj^s and a half. 

That the Moon, and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, 
and Saturn, have each a motion of rotation from west to east, is in¬ 
ferred in like manner from the spots that are seen on their surface. 

The moon presents always nearly the same side to the earth, and 
must, therefore, rotate on her axis in the same time in which she re¬ 
volves round the earth, which is 27# days nearly. 

Mercury rotates on its axis once in 24 hours, Venus in 234 hours, 
Mars in 244 hours, Jupiter in 10 hours, and Saturn in 104 hours. The 
time of rotation of the other planets has not been ascertained. 

With regard to the figure of the sun, and those planets known to 
revolve on an axis, we may conclude that they are spherical, or nearly 
so, since no other form could in every position present a circular ap¬ 
pearance. 

horizon ? The prime vertical ? What other parts of the horizon ? Of what 
does the mariner’s compass consist ? What of the magnet ? How can you dis¬ 
tinguish the points of the compass from the sun? 

What do we infer from the spots passing across the surface of the sun ? Of 
what other planets do we observe the same proof of rotation on their axis? 
Why does the moon always present the same side to the earth ? In what time 
does each of the other planets rotate on its axis? Why do we conclude that 
the sun and other planets that rotate are spherical ? 






12 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

6. ROTATION OF THE EARTH. 

The daily motion of the heavenly bodies suggests the existence of 
some cause under which they appear to perform a revolution from east 
to west in the space of a day and a night. 

We may suppose the heavens to ne carried round the earth while 
the earth remains at rest, or the heavens to be at rest, and the earth to 
revolve on an axis from west to east. 

But it is more reasonable to suppose the earth to have a rotation on 
its axis than that the sun, a body so large and distant, moves with 
such rapidity as to carry him round the earth in so short a time. 

The velocity also required to carry the sun round the earth in 24 
hours, is really insensible when compared with the rapidity with 
which the fixed stars must move to accomplish a like revolution. 

But every difficulty vanishes when we suppose the earth to rotate 
on its axis from west to east every 24 hours, which is therefore the 
only rational conclusion. 

The points on which the axis of rotation meets the surface are called 
th e Poles of the earth, and this axis, if produced, would pass through 
th e poles of the heavens. 


7. THE SEASONS. 

While the sun participates in the diurnal motion of the heavens, he 
also appears to move eastward among the fixed stars. 

It has been found that the sun appears to move in a path, or orbit, 



What does the apparent daily motion of the heavenly bodies suggest ? What 
may we suppose the cause to be? Which is the most reasonable f What ob¬ 
jection with respect to the fixed stars ? What causes every difficultv to vanish ? 
What are the poles of the earth ? ’ 

What motion besides the diurnal motion does the sun appear to have ? At 






















THE SEASONS. 


13 


which cuts the equator in two opposite points, and makes with it an 
f angle of 23° 28' nearly. 

The name of Ecliptic is given to the circle which the plane of this 
1 orbit marks out on the sphere of the heavens. It passes through the 
| twelve constellations which are called the twelve signs of the zodiac, 
I each containing of course 30 degrees. 

The names of these constellations, with the characters by which 
[ they are usually denoted, are Aries y>, Taurus 8, Gemini n. Career 
i 55- Leo Virgo Libra = 2 =, Scorpio up, Sagittarius Capricorn 
• Amiarius £#, and Pisces as represented in Fig. 8. 

The vicissitude of the seasons arises from the combination of the 
t apparent motion of the sun in the ecliptic with his apparent diurnal 
i motion. When the sun is in either of tne points in which the ecliptic 
I intersects the equator, he describes the equator that day in virtue of 
his diurnal motion, and the day is then equal to the night all over the 
I globe. 

The points of intersection of the equator and ecliptic are called the 
equinoctial points. The first point of the sign Aries is supposed to 
coincide with the vernal equinox, and from that point the signs of the 
ecliptic are reckoned. The first point of the sign Libra will, there- 
I fore, coincide with the autumnal equinox. 

The point in the ecliptic at which the sun attains his greatest alti- 
I tilde is called the summer Solstice, and the point at which his meri- 
1 dian altitude is least is called the winter Solstice. 

The Spring is the season between the vernal, or spring equinox, 
which falls about the 21st of March, and the summer solstice, which 
falls about the 21st of June, and the interval between the solstice and 
the autumnal equinox, which falls about the 23d of September, is 
Summer. 

The time between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice, 
which occurs about the 22d of December, is the Autumn, and the Win¬ 
ter is the time that elapses between the winter solstice and the spring 
equinox. 

The two circles parallel to the equator, which the sun describes on 
the longest and shortest days, are called, one the summer, or northern 
Tropic, and the other the winter, or southern Tropic. They are also 
called the tropic of Capricorn and the tropic of Cancer, in reference to 
the points in which they touch the ecliptic. 

About each of the poles suppose a circle to be described distant 
from it a number of degrees equal to the obliquity of the ecliptic, or 
23° 28'; these two circles are called the Polar circles. 

In the region of the earth situated around either of its poles, at every 
point whose zenith lies within the polar circle, the time of the sun’s 
presence above the horizon, at certain seasons, exceeds 24 hours; it 

what angle does its path appear to cut the equator ? What is the ecliptic, and 
through what does it pass ? Which are the names of the constellations ? From 
what does the vicissitude of the seasons arise ? What are the equinoctial 
points ? What point coincides with the vernal equinox ? The autumnal equi¬ 
nox ? What is the summer solstice ? Winter solstice ? What is the Spring ? 
Summer? Autumn? Winter? What are the tropics ? The polar circles ? 


14 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


increases as we approach the pole, where it never sets for one-half the 
year, causing six months of day and six months of night. 

At any point on the earth’s surface between the equator and either 
of the poles, the equator and the circles parallel to it are oblique to the 
horizon. Hence arises the unequal length of the days and nights at 
all places between the equator and either pole. 

If any two places are situated on opposite sides of the equator, the 
spring and summer of the one will correspond to the autumn and win¬ 
ter of the other. 

With regard to the temperature, it is higher in the equatorial regions 
than in any other part of the earth, because there the action of the 
sun’s rays is most direct. 

In the polar regions the greatest degree of cold prevails, in conse- 

? |uence oi the slanting direction in which the sun’s rays strike the sur- 
ace of the earth, ana the great length of the winter night. 

In countries situated between tne equatorial region and the two 
polar regions there prevails a medium temperature, increasing as we 
approach the nearer of the two tropics, and diminishing as we approach 
tne nearer of the two polar circles. 

A division of the earth’s surface into five Zones has been made, 
founded on the difference of temperature from the equator tow T ards 
either pole, being one torrid, two temperate, and two frigid Zones. 

8. DIVISION OF TIME. 

The day, in civil life, is the time that elapses between the rising and 
setting of the sun, and the night the time between his setting and rising. 

The astronomical, or solar day, on the other hand, comprehends 
the whole period of the sun’s daily revolution, and is reckoned from 
the time of his passing any particular meridian to the time of his re¬ 
turning to the same meridian. The astronomical day, therefore, in¬ 
cludes the time in which the earth revolves once on its axis, being 
exactly 24 hours. 

As the return of the sun to the meridian marks out the day, so the 
return of the sun to the same equinox marks out a portion of time called 
the YEAR. 

Within this period the moon goes twelve times through all her 
changes, which occupy the space of nearly 29^ days; hence the year 
has been divided into twelve months, three of which have been allotted 
to each season. 

By accurate observation it is found the time which elapses between 
the instant at which the sun passes the vernal equinox and the period 
of his return to it, is 365£ days nearly, which of course is the period 
of a year. 

Within what limits are the longest days more than 24 hours ? Where longer 
still ? What produces the unequal length of the day and night at all places 
between the equator and poles ? What seasons of places on opposite sides of 
the equator correspond ? Where is die temperature highest ? Where is there 
the greatest degree of cold ? Where the medium temperature ? What divisions 
of the surface of the earth have been formed from the degree of temperature ? 

What is the day in civil life ? What is an astronomical day ? What time 
does the astronomical day include ? What marks out the day and year ? From 
what has the year been divided into 12 months ? What is the number of days 
from the sun’s passing the vernal equinox till his return to it again ? 


15 


THE MOON. 

9. THE MOON. 

The moon, [Fig. 9,] next to the sun, is 
the most interesting to us of all the heavenly- 
bodies. 

The phases of the moon, or the changes 
which she goes through in the course of a 
month, present a division of time so remark¬ 
able that it has been the first in use among 
all nations. 

The moon has an apparent motion among 
the fixed stars similar to that of the sun, but 
much more rapid. 

When this motion is accurately traced out, 
it is found that the moon describes a path, or 
orbit, round the earth, in 27£ days nearly. 

The moon is an opaque body, like the earth, and is visible only in 
consequence of her reflecting the rays of the sun. Therefore the 
changes of the moon depend on her position with regard to the sun. 

A lunation, or lunar month, is formed by the time that elapses be¬ 
tween one new moon and another, which is 29 \ days nearly. 

The bright spots seen on the surface of the moon are high moun¬ 
tains, illuminated by the sun, while his rays have not yet reached the 
bottom of the intervening valleys where the dark spots appear. 

In its progress round tne earth, the moon sometimes passes between 
the earth ana the sun, and then an eclipse of the sun takes place. 

Sometimes also the earth passes between the sun and moon, by 
which the sun’s rays are prevented from shining on the moon, and an 
eclipse of the moon is then produced. 

10. MOTION OF THE EARTH ROUND THE SUN. 

With regard to the ce¬ 
lestial motions, every ap¬ 
pearance would be tne 
same to us, whether the 
earth described an orbit 
round the sun, as exhi¬ 
bited in fig. 10, or the 
sun, with nis accompa¬ 
nying planets, revolved 
round the earth. 

But the immense mass¬ 
es of the sun and several 
of the planets, with their 
great distances from the 
earth, render it much 

What of the moon ? What of the moon’s phases ? What apparent motion 
has the moon ? What is the result of this motion ? What is the moon ? On 
what do the changes of the moon depend? What is a lunatic or lunar month . 
What are the bright and dark spots on the surface of the moon ? How does 
an eclipse of the sun take place ? Of the moon ? 




Moon, Fig. 9. 






16 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


more simple to suppose that the earth describes an orbit round the sun, 
than that they revolve round the earth. 

The similarity between the earth and planets confirms the opinion 
that the earth revolves round the sun. 

Jupiter, for example, is known to have a revolution on his axis, and 
to be attended by four moons. The earth resembles that planet, having 
a revolution on its axis, and being attended by one moon. 

An observer, placed on Jupiter, would suppose that the planetary 
system revolved round him in the same manner as an observer on the 
earth supposes himself to be placed at the centre of the celestial mo¬ 
tions. 

To an observer on the surface of the sun, the earth and other planets 
would appear to move from west to east, and would be free from all 
the complication in their motions to which they appear to be subject 
when viewed from the earth. 

The true system of the world, therefore, is that which supposes 
the sun to be at rest in the centre, and the earth and other planets to 
revolve round him. 

Instead, therefore, of the earth being at rest in the centre of the uni¬ 
verse, it is a planet in motion about its own axis and about the sun. 

Like Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus, the earth is accompanied by a sa¬ 
tellite or moon; like them, it receives light and heat from the sun, and 
revolves about the sun in the same direction and according to the same 
laws. 

The vicissitudes of the seasons arise from the obliquity of the eclip¬ 
tic to the equator; and the ecliptic, which was before considered the 
path of the sun round the earth, is now proved to be the orbit of the 
earth round the sun. 

The axis of the earth’s daily motion is inclined to the plane of its 
orbit at an angle of about 66°, 32', and remains, as the earth revolves 
round the sun, nearly parallel to itself. 

The circle, therefore, which the sun appears to trace on the heavens 
in the course of a year, forms with the equator an angle of 23° 28', 
and this produces the differences in the solar light and neat which we 
observe throughout the seasons of the year. 

lit COMETS. 

Comets are seen only in that part of their paths which lie nearest the 
sun. They move in orbits which are extremely elliptic, and after ap¬ 
proaching near the sun recede from him to an immense distance. 

Would the celestial appearances be the same 'whether the sun revolved round 
the earth or the earth round the sun ? What renders the revolution of the 
earth round the sun most probable ? What confirms the opinion ? What ex¬ 
ample ? What would an observer placed on Jupiter suppose ? What would 
appear to an observer in the sun ? What is the true system of the world ? 
What then is the true condition of the earth ? What resemblance has it to 
some of the other planets ? From what does the vicissitudes of seasons arise ? 
What of the ecliptic and orbit of the earth ? What of the axis of the earth’s 
daily motion ? What produces the differences in the solar light and heat ? 

Iu what part of their orbits are comets seen ? In what orbits do they move ? 


GRAVITATION. 


17 


The dense part of a comet is called the nucleus, and the long lumi¬ 
nous train proceeding from the comet in an opposite direction from the 
sun is called the tail. 

The length of the tail is very various. Some comets are almost des¬ 
titute of it, while the tail of others has been computed to be many mil¬ 
lions of miles in length. 

The period of the revolution of only three comets has been ascer¬ 
tained. Halley’s, which performs its revolution in seventy-six years, 
Encke’s in three and a quarter years, and Beila’s, in six and three quar¬ 
ter years. 

Of the nature of comets very little is known. Most of them ap¬ 
pear to be a mere vapour, as the stars are seen through the most dense 
part of many of them. 

The appearance of several hundred comets has been recorded, and 
it is conjectured that the whole number amounts to many thousands. 

12. GRAVITATION. 

The motions of the heavenly bodies have been accounted for in va- 
r rious ways, but since the sublime discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton, have 
been referred to the law of Universal Gravitation. 

As a planet moves round the sun, it is acted on by two forces, the 
centripetal or centre-seeking force, and the centrifugal or centre-flying 
> force. 

Each of the planets, therefore, is retained in its orbit by the centripe- 
I tal force directed towards the sun, and the centripetal force is counter- 
| acted by the centrifugal force generated by the planet’s motion in its 
orbit. 

The planets also, being acted on both by the centripetal and centrifu¬ 
gal forces at the same time, take a direction between them, and conse¬ 
quently move round the sun in orbits nearly circular. 

By the law of Universal Gravitation, every particle of matter in the 
; universe is attracted by every other particle of matter. 

The planets, therefore, attract the sun in the same manner as the sun 
attracts the planets which revolve round him, and the same action and 
i reaction exists among the planets and their satellites. 

By the force of gravitation also, unsupported bodies fall to the 
ground and remain in a state of rest, by which a general permanency is 
given to every thing around us. 


i What is the nucleus and tail of a comet? What is the length of the tail ? 
Of how many comets has the period of revolution been ascertained ? What 
is the nature of comets ? How many comets are there ? 

To what are the motions of the heavenly bodies referred ? As a planet 
moves round the sun, what two forces act on it ? What then retains each of the 
planets in its orbit ? What causes the planets to move in circular orbits ? What 
is the law of gravitation with respect to the attraction of every particle of 
matter ? Do the planets attract the sun ? What other effects of the force of 
gravitation ? 





18 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

13. THE TIDES. 

The most constant and important motion of the ocean is that called 
the Tides, which are produced by the attractive force of the sun and 
moon. 

Great as the volume of water in the ocean is, it has a constant rising 
and falling, called the ebbing and flowing of the tide. 

In six hours the water rises from its lowest to its highest level, and 
after remaining stationary for a few minutes, descends in about the 
same period to the level it had at low water. 

That part of the earth nearest to the body of the moon must feel 
most of its attractive force, for the power of gravity decreases as the 
square of the distance increases. 

The waters on the side of the earth nearest the moon will, there¬ 
fore, be more attracted than those at the central part or opposite side, 
and a rise of the waters will take place. 

But at the same time the waters will rise on the side of the earth 
opposite the moon, because the water is drawn towards the body by 
the difference of her attractive power at the surface and at the centre. 

The attractive influence of the sun acts upon the tides in the same 
manner as the moon, but in a less degree, on account of his greater 
distance. 

The highest tides are produced when the attractive influence of the 
sun and moon act at the same time and place. 

As the influences of the sun and moon are greatest near the equator, 
the highest tides are found within the tropics, and the lowest within 
the polar circles. 


14. THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 

Among the countless number of stars, ten have been proved to be 
planets revolving about the sun, and receiving their light and heat 
from him. 

The earth we inhabit has also been proved to have a similar motion, 
and to belong to the same class of bodies. 

It seems reasonable, therefore, to conclude that the other planets, 
like the earth, are designed by Infinite Wisdom for the accommodation 
of inhabitants, and, in all probability, millions of intelligent beings 
are placed on them. 

As our knowledge of the celestial phenomena is extended, the pro¬ 
bability becomes stronger that the planets are stored with inhabitants 
who share in the blessings of rational existence. 

What is the most constant motion of the ocean ? What kind of motion has 
the waters ? How many hours does it ebb and flow ? What part of the earth 
feels most the attractive force of the moon ? What effect will this have on 
the waters of the earth ? Why do the waters rise at the same time on the 
opposite side of the earth ? What effect has the attractive influence of the 
sun ? When are the highest tides ? Where are the highest tides and lowest 
tides found ? 

What of the planets ? The earth ? Is it probable that the planets are in¬ 
habited ? Does the extension of our knowledge increase this probability ? 


REPRESENTATION OF THE EARTH. 19 

In regard to the fixed stars, it is highly probable that each star is a 
sun and the centre of a system of planets which revolve round it. 

There appears strong reason to suppose that the sun itself, with 
the planets, has a motion among the fixed stars round an unknown 
centre. 

The following table shows the most important facts relating to each 
of the planets. See Fig. 8 and 10. 


Names. 

Distance 
from the sun 
in miles. 

Period of 
revolution 
round the 
sun. 

Period of 
rotation on 
axis. 

Diameter 
in miles. 

Number 
of moons. 

The Sun. 

The centre 


25 days 

883246 



of the solar 






system. 





1. Mercury 

37 millions 

88 days 

24 hours 

3224 


2. Venus 

68 “ 

224 “ 

23 “ 

7687 


3. Earth 

95 “ 

365£ « 

24 « 

7916 

1 moon 

4. Mars 

144 « 

687 « 

24 “ 

4189 


5. Vesta 

225 “ 

1335 “ 

Not ascert’d 

238 


6. Juno 

252 « 

1591 “ 

U 

1425 


7. Ceres 

263 “ 

1681 “ 

U 

163 


8. Pallas 

265 « 

1703 “ 

iC 

80 


9. Jupiter 

490 « 

20 years 

10 hours 

89170 

4 moons 

10. Saturn 

i 900 « 

29£ “ 

10£ « 

79042 

7 moons 

11. Uranus 

1800 « 

84 « 

Not ascert’d 

35112 

6 moons 


15. REPRESENTATION OF THE EARTH. 

The most natural and correct representation of the surface of the 
earth is that which is made on an artificial globe. 

On an artificial globe the different countries may be truly delineated, 
so as to exhibit their relative positions, magnitude, and boundaries. 

But though the surface of a solid, having the exact figure of the 
earth, affords the most perfect representation, there is a limit in prac¬ 
tice to this advantage. 

For the largest globe that can conveniently be constructed is not 
large enough to admit of minute details, and recourse must, therefore, 
be nad to the less perfect representations of maps. Fig. 11 shows an 
outline of the map of Asia. 

A map of the ocean is called a Chart, and a number of maps bound 
together in a book is called an Atlas. 

On a map or chart the top is the north part, the bottom south, the 
rigfht hand east, and the left hand west. 

o 1 

What of the fixed stars ? Is the sun probably in motion ? What of the dia¬ 
meter and rotation of the sun ? What distance is Mercury from the sun? 
Revolution? Rotation? Diameter? Venus? The earth ? Mars? Vesta? 
Juno ? Ceres ? Pallas ? Jupiter ? Saturn ? Uranus ? 

What is the most natural and correct representation of the earth ? What 
of the artificial globe ? What else h Why then do we resort to maps ? What 
is a chart ? An atlas ? Wliat part of a map is the north ? South ? East ? 













ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


20 



Map, Fig. 11. 

The different parts of a country, or map of a country, are named 
from the points of the compass; tne middle being called the interior 
or middle part. 

When we wish to find the course of one place from another on any 
map in which the lines of latitude and longitude are curved , the course 
of the lines must be followed. 

When the figures on the sides of a map, denoting the latitude, in¬ 
crease from the bottom towards the top, the latitude is north; when 
from the top towards the bottom, the latitude is south. 

W T hen the figures on the top and bottom of a map, denoting the lon¬ 
gitude, increase from the right to the left, the longitude is west; when 
from the left to the right, the longitude is east. 

16 . THE ATMOSPHERE. 

The air in which we breathe, with the clouds and vapours floating 
in it, surrounds the earth to an unknown height, and is called the At¬ 
mosphere. 

The human species and all land animals are thus immersed in the 
atmosphere, and may be said to inhabit an ocean of air in the same 
manner as fishes inhabit the water. 

The pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the earth is equal 
to about fourteen and a half pounds on every square inch; but the 
pressure is less if the place is elevated above the level of the sea, and 
greater if below it, as in deep mines. 

West ? From what are the different parts of a map or country named ? 
When the lines of latitude and longitude are curved, how do we find the cor¬ 
rect position of a place ? How do we know when the latitude on a map is 
north ? When south ? How do we know when the longitude on a map is 
west ? When east ? 

W"hat of the air or atmosphere ? W T hat are immersed in it ? What is its 
pressure on the earth ? From what is the heat of the atmosphere derived ? 


























T.IE ATMOSPHERE. 


21 


The heat of the atmosphere is chiefly derived from the sun’s rays, 
by which the local temperature or difference in the climate of countries 
is produced. 

The climate of a country depends greatly on its distance from the 
equator, and its height above the level of the sea. 

The decrease of heat as we proceed from the equator towards the 
poles follows different laws in the two hemispheres, the southern being 
colder than the northern in the same latitude. 

Continents and large islands are also warmer on their western than 
on their eastern sides. 

Such differences become more sensible when we connect places 
having the same mean temperature by lines which Humboldt calls 
Isothermal lines. 

Thus the mean temperature of latitude 43° in Europe, is that of 
36° in America, and the mean temperature of latitude 60° in Europe, 
is that of latitude 48° in America. 

The difference between the mean temperature of summer and 
winter is nothing at the equator, and increases continually with the 
latitude. 

The extremes of cold and heat are chiefly felt in large inland tracts, 
jt and little felt in small islands remote from continents. 

The extreme difference in seasons is comparatively small in western 
Europe, but greater where the mean annual temperature is low, as on 
; the eastern coasts of Asia and America. 

In the United States, intense cold is felt when the wind blows from 
1 the frozen regions of the north. 

In Africa, the heat accumulates to an astonishing degree when the 
wind passes over extensive deserts of burning sand. 

In the arctic regions, the temperature is greatly moderated by 
the freezing of water and melting of the ice. 

The freezing of the water gives out an immense quantity of heat 
which moderates the cold of winter, and the thawing of the ice ab- 
■ sorbs the heat and reduces the heat of summer. 

Had the arctic regions been entirely composed of land, neither plants 
nor animals could have existed there on account of the great variations 
| in temperature. 

For during summer the six months of day would have produced an 
j intense heat” and during winter the long night of six months would 
! have produced an intense and fatal degree of cold. 

On what does the climate of a country depend ? Does the decrease of heat 
follow the same law in both hemispheres ? What of the heat of continents 
and large islands ? How do these differences become more sensible ? What 
of the mean temperature in Europe and America ? What of the difference of 
the mean temperature of summer and winter ? What of the extremes of heat 
aud cold ? Where is the extreme difference of seasons least and greatest ? 
What effect from wind in America ? In Africa ? What moderates the tem¬ 
perature of the arctic regions ? What effect from freezing and thawing of 
ice ? What if the arctic regions had been entirely land i What effect of the 
day and night of the arctic regions i 




22 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

17. EFFECT OF CLIMATE ON PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 

The distribution of plants and animals is chiefly regulated by the 
temperature of the atmosphere, and each one has a particular climate 
in which it thrives best, and beyond which it ceases to exist. 

Plants are the most numerous, and exhibit the greatest variety of 
species and most luxuriant growth, within the tropics or in the torrid 
zone, beyond which they gradually diminish. 

The most important plants found in the torrid zone are the coffee, 
cotton, sugar cane, plantain, banana, orange, and the different spice 
bearing plants. 

In the torrid zone, the forest trees grow to a greater size than in any 
other part of the world, and are always clothed with perpetual green. 

The most remarkable animals found in the torrid zone are the ele¬ 
phant, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, camel, ostrich, and serpents and insects 
of monstrous size, some of which are venomous. 

In the temperate zones, the greatest variety of the most useful fruits 
and grains are found, such as apples, pears, peaches, and wheat, rye, 
oats, barley, and Indian corn. 

In the temperate zones there are few animals or reptiles which are 
dangerous to the welfare of man, but they abound with those whose 
flesh is useful for the food of man, or whose labour assists him in cul¬ 
tivating the earth. 

In the arctic regions, the vegetable kingdom has dwindled to almost 
nothing, and whatever trees or plants are found on its borders are of 
the most diminutive description. 

The animals of the arctic regions are also few in number, such as 
the white bear, musk ox, and a few others which are able to endure 
the rigour of the climate. 

18. CLOUDS AND RAIN. 

When water is exposed to the air, it gradually disappears, and is 
thus said to have dried up or to have evaporated. 

When the air is warm, it can contain a greater quantity of moisture 
than when it is cold. The degree of coldness at which the air deposits 
its moisture is called the dew point. 

Dew is formed and deposited on the surface of the earth when the 
air near the ground becomes cooled to the dew point. 

When a higher portion of the air is cooled but a very little below 
the dew point, a fog only is produced. 

When the cooling of a large body of the higher portion of the air 
is greatly below the dew point, dense clouds are formed. 

From the clouds, the water, collecting into drops, descends to the 

What regulates the distribution of plants and animals ? Where is the 
greatest number and variety of plants ? Which are the most important plants 
of the torrid zone ? Trees ? Which are the most remarkable animals of 
the torrid zone ? What of the vegetation of the temperate zones ? Animals 
of the temperate zones ? What of the vegetation of the frigid zones ? Ani¬ 
mals ? 

When water is exposed to the air, what occurs ? In what state can the air 
retain most moisture ? What is the dew point ? When is dew formed ? 
When is fog only produced ? When are clouds formed i How is rain, hail, 



LUMINOUS METEORS. 


23 


i earth in the form of rain, hail, or snow, according to the degree of 
| cold. 

Rain is more abundant towards the equator than towards the poles; 

! at the sea coast than towards the interior; and on elevated situations 
| than on plains. 

Lightning is electricity passing from a cloud to the earth, or from 
one cloud to another. Thunder is the noise made by the lightning, 
which is usually repeated several times, by echoes, till it gradually 
ceases. 

19. LUMINOUS METEORS. 

The refraction and reflection of light by the atmosphere, and the 
vapours suspended in it, produce the Rainbow, Halo, and several other 
j remarkable appearances. 

I The Rainbow is a circular image of the sun, reflected and then re¬ 
fracted through falling rain. The water reflects the rays of light in 
different degrees, and thus produces the different colours, which appear 
| in the rainbow. 

The Halo is a faint resemblance of a rainbow, and appears in a haze 
or thin fog round the sun or moon. 

The Mirage or looming is a curious optical deception arising from a 
J peculiar state of the atmosphere, by which objects are greatly altered 
( from their real character and appearance. By this illusion a ship at 
f sea is often represented with the masts downwards, and the thirsty 
traveller in the sandy deserts sees pools of water before him which 
\ he can never reach. 

The Aurora Borealis or northern light is a peculiar luminous appear- 
i ance which arises during the night, usually in frosty weather. It is 
not seen near the equator, but becomes frequent towards the pole. 

In the southern hemisphere the Aurora Australis, or southern light, 
is seen, though not so vivid as is the Aurora Borealis. The causes 
which produce these lights are not known, but are believed to be con¬ 
nected with electricity and magnetism. 

Aerolites or meteoric stones are bodies composed chiefly of magnetic 
iron, which have frequently been seen falling from the atmosphere to 
the earth. They vary from a very small to a very large size, and some 
I are known which weigh several tons. 

Meteoric stones, when they first reach the earth, are always very 
hot, and sometimes in a melted or fluid state. Whether they are 
1 thrown from volcanoes on the earth or moon, or formed in the atmo¬ 
sphere, has not been determined by philosophers. 

Fire balls and falling stars are thought to be meteoric stones which 
have become intensely heated by the friction caused by the swiftness 
of their motion through the atmosphere. 

or snow produced ? Where is rain most abundant ? What is lightning ? 
Thunder ? 

What results from the refraction and reflection of light by the atmosphere 
and its vapours ? What is the rainbow ? How produced ? What is a halo ? 
What is the mirage or looming ? What curious illusions produced by it ? 
Wliat of the aurora borealis ? The aurora australis ? What produces them ? 
What of aerolites or meteoric stones ? In what state do they first reach 
the earth ? Where do they come from ? What are fire balls and falling stars ? 



24 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


20. WINDS. 

Winds are currents of air set in motion from the disturbance of the 
atmosphere by an unequal distribution of heat. 

When a body of air becomes heated, it ascends because it also be¬ 
comes lighter, and the cold air rushing in to supply its place, a current 
of air or wind is produced. 

The Trade Wind blows constantly from the east, between the tropics, 
following the course where the air is most heated by the sun. 

In the Indian Ocean the trade wind is modified by the surrounding 
land, blowing from the southwest in summer, and northeast in winter. 
These winds are called the Monsoons. 

As to the parts of the globe which lie beyond the region of the 
trade winds, calms prevail over a narrow space, beyond which, towards 
the poles, the winds are variable. 

Islands and countries near the sea have sea breezes during the day 
which blow towards the land, and land breezes during the night which 
blow towards the sea. 

Some warm countries are visited by hot, pestilential winds, such as 
the Kamsin of Egypt, the Simoom of Arabia and the Desert. 

In a gentle breeze, the wind moves at the rate of four or five miles 
an hour; in a pleasant gale, ten to fifteen miles; in a high wind, thir¬ 
ty to thirty-five miles, and in a hurricane more than one hundred miles 
an hour. 

The atmosphere is the vehicle of sound, which moves with a velo¬ 
city of 1100 feet in a second of time. 

21. NATURAL DIVISIONS OF WATER. 

The Ocean consists of one continuous portion of salt water, spread 
round the land, and probably extending from pole to pole, forming 
three-fourths of the entire surface of the globe. 

The ocean is the origin and fountain of all the other waters, and it 
is from the vapours exhaled from it that the atmosphere is furnished 
with the waters which descend in rain to refresh and fertilize the 
earth. 

The ocean is the great highway of commerce, and forms a ready 
means of communication between the most distant portions of the 
earth. The fishes also which inhabit it afford a means of support to 
a large portion of the human race. 

The motion of the waters of the ocean is almost perpetual, by which 
the air is purified and the water prevented from throwing out noxious 
vapours. 

Waves are the alternate rising and falling of the surface of the 

What are winds ? How produced ? What of the trade winds ? What are 
the monsoons ? What of the parts beyond the region of the trade winds ? 
What places have sea and land breezes ? What of hot winds ? At what rate 
does the wind move ? Sound ? 

Of what does the ocean consist P Of what is the ocean the origin ? What 
dvantage to commerce ? What food does it supply ? What of the motion 
its waters p What are waves ? What two great currents ? What effects 


SPRINGS. 


25 


ocean, produced by the force of the winds. Waves striking against 
the shore are called breakers or the surf. 

There are two great and permanentcurrents in the ocean; that of the tro¬ 
pical waters westward, and that of the polar waters towards the equator. 

Currents from the torrid zone, passing to colder regions, raise the 
temperature of the sea, and currents from the regions near the poles 
cool the waters of the ocean in warm climates. 


Whirlpools are produced by the meeting of currents w r hich come in 
different directions. The most celebrated whirlpools are the Charyb- 
dis in the strait of Messina, and the Maelstrom on the coast of Norway. 

The ocean may be conveniently divided into five great basins, 
named the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic Ocean. 

A sea is a collection of salt water nearly surrounded by land, but 
communicating with the ocean, of which it forms a part. The Medi¬ 
terranean, Baltic, Red and Caribbean Seas, are the most important. 

A gulf is a part of an ocean or sea nearly surrounded by land, as 
the Gulf of Mexico. 

A bay is a part of an ocean or sea extending up into the land, as the 
Bay of Bengal. 

A strait is a narrow portion of water between two portions of land, 
as the Strait of Gibraltar. A wide strait is called a Channel. A shal¬ 
low strait is called a Sound. 

A harbour is a small bay where ships may remain at anchor in safety. 
A road or roadstead is a part of a bay near a coast where ships may lie at 
anchor. 

22. SPRINGS. 



Springs are formed by the rain water which falls on high grounds, 
then sinks into the earth, and issues again through the crevices of the 
earth at a lower level. 

Hot springs are those which preserve a heat above the mean tem¬ 
perature of the place, and are most common in volcanic countries. 

The most remarkable 
hot springs are those of 
Iceland, called the Gey¬ 
sers, [Fig. 11,] which 
sometimes throw up 
large quantities of boil¬ 
ing water to the height 
of 200 or 300 feet. 

Springs which contain 
in their waters salts, 
earths, acids, metals, and 
similar substances, in so¬ 
lution, are called mineral 
springs. 

The Geysers, Fig. 11. 


do they produce ? What are whirlpools ? What two noted whirlpools ? 
What great divisions of the ocean ? What is a sea ? A gulf? A bay ? A 
strait ? A channel ? A sound ? A harbour ? A road ? 

How are springs formed ? What are hot springs ? Which are the most 
remarkable hot springs ? What are mineral springs ? 




26 ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

COMPARATIVE LENGTH OF THE PRINCIPAL RIVERS. 


Refer¬ 

ences. 

Names. 

Month. 

Course. 

Source. 

Length 
in M'les. 

A. 

Forth - 

North Sea 

Scotland 

Ben Loruond Ml.- 

115 

B. 

Tay - - 

North Sea 

Scotland 

Grampian Hills - 

120 

C. 

Trent - 

North Sea 

England 

Staffordshire 

125 

D. 

Shannon 

Atlantic Oc’n 

Ireland 

Mts. of Leitrim - 

200 

E. 

Thames 

North Sea 

England 

Cotswold Hills - 

215 

F. 

Severn 

Bristol Chan’l 

England and Wales 

Plinlimmon Mt. - 

220 

G. 

Hudson 

Atlantic Oc’n 

North America 

State of New York 

320 

H. 

Ebro - 

Medit’ran. S. 

Spain - - 

Mts. of Asturias - 

380 

I. 

Po - - 

Adriatic Sea 

Italy - - 

Monte Viso - 

410 

J. 

Seine - 

Eng. Channel 

France 

Cdted’OrMts. - 

425 

K. 

Rhone - 

Medit’ran. S 

Switzerland and Fr. 

Mount b urea 

414) 

L. 

Loire - 

Bay of Biscay 

France 

Mont Gerbier 

54o 

M. 

Tagus 

Atlantic Oc’n 

Spain and Portugal 

Sierra Morena 

550 

N. 

Oder - 

Baltic Sea 

Austria and Prussia 

Carpathian Mts. 

5S0 

O. 

Susquehanna 

Atlantic Oc’n 

U nited States - 

Alleghany Mts. - 

620 

P. 

Vistula 

Baltic Sea 

Austria and Prussia 

Carpathian Mts. 

640 

Q. 

Elbe 

North Sea 

Germany 

Giant Mts. - 

670 

R. 

Gambia 

Atlantic Oc’n 

Africa - 

Hts. of Foota Jallo 

700 

S. 

Dniester 

Black Sea 

Austria and Turkey 

Carpathian Mts. 

710 

T. 

Dwina 

White Sea 

Russia - 

Heights of Vologda 

750 

U. 

Rhine - 

North Sea 

France and Germany 

Mount St. Gothard 

810 

V. 

Colombia 

Pacific Ocean 

North America 

Rockv Mountains 

910 

w. 

Senegal 

Atlantic Oc’n 

Africa - 

His. of Foota Jallo 

950 

X. 

Don 

Sea of Azof 

Russia - - 

Toula - 

1020 

Y. 

Dneiper 

Black Sea 

Russia - - 

Mts. of Smolensk 

1140 

z. 

St. Lawrence 

Atlantic Oc’n 

North America 

Upper Canada - 

13-20 

A. 1 

Orinoco 

Atlantic Oc’n 

South America 

Sierra de Parime 

1480 

B. 1 

Gances 

Bengal Bay 

Hindostan 

Himalaya Mts. - 

1550 

C. 1 

Danube 

Black Sea 

Germany and Turkey 

Black Forest 

1760 

D. 1 

Indus 

Indian Ocean 

Hindostan 

Himalaya Mts. - 

177C 

E. 1 

Euphrates - 

Persian Gulf 

Turkey in Asia 

Mts. of Armenia 

1900 

F. 1 

Tigris 

Euphrates 

Turkey in Asia 

Mts. of Armenia 

950 

G. 1 

Mackenzie - 

Arctic Ocean 

North America 

Rocky Mountains 

1920 

H. 1 

Volga 

Caspian Sea 

Russia - - - 

Heights of Valdai 

2010 

I. 1 

La Plata » 

Atlantic Oc’n 

South America 

Heights of Itambe 

2F30 

J. 1 

Niger 

G. of Guinea 

Africa - 

Mountains of Loma 

2300 

K. 1 

Obt - - 

Arctic Ocean 

Siberia 

Altai Mountains 

2550 

L. 1 

Nile 

Medit’ran. S. 

Nubia and Egypt - 

Donga Mountains 

2610 

M. 1 

Balir el Azrek 

Nile - 

Abyssinia and Nubia 

Lake Dembea 

S0Q 

N. 1 

Hoang-Ho - 

Pacific Ocean 

Thibet and China - 

Desert of Cobi 

2ff» 

O. 1 

Yang-tse-kiane 

Pacific Ocean 

Thibet and China - 

Desert of Cobi 

2990 

P. 

Mississippi • 

G. of Mexico 

North America 

Leech Lake 

3000 

Q- 

Maranon 

Atlantic Oc’n 

South America 

Heights of Cicacica 

3380 

R. 

Illinois 

Mississippi R 

North America 

StaCe of Illinois 

500 

S. 

Missouri 

Mississippi R 

North America 

Rocky Mountains 

2310 

T. 

Ohio - 

Mississippi R 

North America 

Alleghany Mis. 

1190 


REFERENCE TO TIIE TOWNS. 


1. Edinburgh. 

2. Dundee. 

3. Nottingham. 

4. Limerick. 

5. London. 

6. Oxford. 

7. Gloucester. 

8. New York. 

9. Hudson. 

It*. Saragossa. 

11. Turin. 

12. Paris. 

13. Lyons. 

14. Orleans. 

15. Nantes. 


16. Lisbon. 

17. Madrid. 

18. Breslau. 

19. Stettin. 

20. Washington. 

21. Dantzig. 

22. Warsaw. 

23. Dresden. 

24. Hamburgh. 

25. Jillifrey. 

26. Bender. 

27. Archangel. 
'28. Frankfort. 

29. Constance. 

30. Faribe. 


31. Azof. 

32. Cherson. 

33. Quebec. 

34. Calcutta. 

35. Bahar. 

36. Benares. 

37. Allahabad. 

38. Vienna. 

39. Buda. 

40. Widin. 

41. Tatta. 

42. Hyderabad. 

43. Moultan. 

44. Attock. 


45. Bassora. 

46. Babylon. 

47. Bagdad. 

48. Ft. Good Hope. 

49. Astrachan. 

50. Novogorod. 

51. Buenos Ayres. 

52. Rabba. 

53. Eboe. 

54. Boussa. 

55. Tinibuctoo. 

56. Sego. 

57. Kholyvan. 

58. Narim. 


59. Cairo. 

60. Thebes. 

61. Dongola. 

62. Sennaar. 

63. Gondar. 

64. Lantcheou. 

65. Hoain-gaufou. 

66. Nankin. 

67. New Orleans. 

68. Louisville. 

69. New Madrid. 

70. Macapa. 

71. t Olivenca. 

72. La Paz! 


» 


REFERENCE TO THE LAKES. 

a. Dembeaj b. Great Slave L.; c. Erie; d. Ontario; e. Constance;/. Lake Geneva. 









































RIVERS. 


§7 



SI 


> g 
































23 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


23. LAKES. 

A lake is a body of water which does not communicate with the 
ocean. Most lakes receive one or more rivers, and the water is usu¬ 
ally carried off by another river called an outlet. 

The water of lakes which receive streams of water, and have no 
outlet, are usually salt, and are sometimes, though improperly, called 
seas, as the Caspian Sea. 

Lake Superior, in North America, and the chain of lakes connected 
with it, are by far the largest and most important bodies of fresh 
water on the globe. 


24. RIVERS. 

The term river is applied to any large current of water flowing 
through a country, which may discharge itself into the ocean, into 
lakes, or into other rivers. 

The small streams which flow from springs are called rills or rivu¬ 
lets, and by uniting together gradually form larger currents called 
creeks, and two or more creeks uniting together form rivers. 

Rivers always occupy the lowest parts of the districts from which 
their waters are derived, and these districts are called their basins. 
The Amazon in South America, and the Missouri in North America, 
are the largest rivers in the world. 

Waterfalls, cascades, 
and cataracts are fre¬ 
quently formed by ri¬ 
vers in descending from 
a higher to a lower le¬ 
vel, over compact, du¬ 
rable rocks. 

The cataract of Nia¬ 
gara [Fig. 12l is the 
most remarkable in the 
w'orld, on account of its 
height, and the great 
body of water which 
forms it. 

Cataract of Niagara, Fig. 12, 

What is a lake ? Do rivers usually flow into and out of lakes ? What 
lakes are usually salt ? What lake and cliain of lakes is the largest in the 
world ? 

What is a river ? How are rivers formed ? What part of a district do 
rivers occupy ? What two are the longest in the world ? How are waterfalls, 
cascades, and cataracts formed ? For what is the cataract of Niagara re¬ 
markable ! 




NATURAL DIVISIONS OF LAND. 


29 


25. NATURAL DIVISIONS OF LAND. 

The dry land, or land above the level of the sea, is arranged into 
two great divisions, named the Old World and the New World. 

The old world in the eastern hemisphere, called also the eastern 
continent, includes Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

The new world in the western hemisphere, called also the western 
continent, includes North and South America. 

Besides the old and new world, there occur, dispersed through the 
ocean, numerous small portions of land called Islands. An island, 
therefore, is land surrounded by water. 

The islands near the great divisions of land are considered as be¬ 
longing to them; as the British islands to Europe, Japan to Asia, 
Madagascar to Africa, and the West Indies to America. 

When a portion of land is nearly surrounded by water, it is called 
a Peninsula. Africa and South America are the most remarkable 
peninsulas in the world. 

A narrow portion of land, which connects a peninsula with the 
main land, is called an Isthmus. The Isthmus of Suez, which con¬ 
nects Africa with Asia, and the Isthmus of Darien, which connects 
South with North America, are the most noted. 

A portion of land projecting into the ocean is called a Cape. A 
high cape is called a Promontory. 

With respect to surface, the dry land exhibits great varieties, form¬ 
ing mountains, hills, valleys, and plains. 

The most general features of the surface of the earth are those 
termed highland and lowland. 

In a highland, the central parts are lofty and rugged, while the parts 
which border on the lowland are lower and less rugged. The central 
part is named alpine, the lower and exterior portion, hilly. 

The central or alpine part of a highland is called the high mountain 
chain, towards which there tend a greater or less number of ridges or 
lateral chains. 

On the top of some mountains are found extensive tracts of country 
nearly level, which are called table lands; as, the table land of 
Mexico. 

The hilly or lower part of the highland is composed of lower and 
less rugged chains of highland, called chains of hills, which are irre¬ 
gularly grouped. 

The hollows which separate chains of mountains or hills from each 
other are called Valleys. 

What are the two great divisions of dry land named ? What does the old 
world include ? The new world ? What other portions of land besides the 
old and new world ? What is an island ? What of islands near continents ? 
What is a peninsula ? What two great peninsulas ? What is an isthmus ? 
What two noted isthmuses ? What is a cape ? A promontory ? 

What surface does the dry land exhibit ? What are the most general 
features of the earth’s surface ? What of a highland ? What of the central 
or alpine part ? What of table lands ? 

Of what is the hilly or lower part of a highland composed ? What are 


30 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


HEIGHT OF THE PRINCIPAL MOUNTAINS. 


EUROPE. Eng. Feet. 

1. Mont Blanc, Alps - 15,668 

2. Monte Rosa, Alps - - * 15,527 

3. Finster Aarhorn, Alps - - 14,325 

4. Jungfrau, Alps - 13,730 

5. Schreckhorn, Alps * * 13,310 

6. Oertler Spitze, Alps - 13,065 

7. Gross Glockner, Alps - - 12,980 

8. Simplon, Alps .... 11,730 

9. Mulhacen, Sierra Nevada -11,678 

10. Maladetta, Pyrenees - - 11,436 

11. Mont Perdu, Pyrenees - - 11,275 

12. Penaranda, Asturias - - 11,200 

13. Etna, Sicily .... 10,870 

14. St. Gothard, Alps - - - 10,605 

15. Ruska, Carpathians - 9 912 

16. Mount C6nis, Alps ... 9,650 

17. Little St. Bernard, Alps - - 9,600 

18. Monte Corno, Apennines - - 9,523 

19. Kanigou, Pyrenees - 8,800 

20. Skagtlos Find, Dofrines - - 8,400 

21. Sneehatta, Dofrines - - 8,122 

22. Lornnitz, Carpathians - - 7,9.62 

23. Taygetus, Greece ... 7,950 

24. Olympus, Turkey ... 6,650 

25. Mont d’Or, Auvergne - - 6,470 

26. Cantal, Auvergne ... 6,350 

27. Mezfine, Cevennes ... 5,920 

28. Parnassus, Greece ... 5,850 

29. Ossa, Turkey .... 5,840 

30. Kiesen Koppe, Sudetes - - 5,350 

31. Pel ion, Greece .... 5,200 

32. Hecla, Iceland .... 5.010 

33. Loz6re, Cevennes ... 4,930 

34. Puy de D6me, Auvergne - - 4,890 

35. Feldberg, Black Forest - - 4,750 

36. Haydelberg, Bohemian Forest - 4,690 

37. Helicon, Greece ... 4,550 

33. Ben Nevis, Grampians - - 4,379 

39. Ben Lawers, Grampians - - 4,051 

40. Cairngorm, Grampians - - 4,050 

41. Vesuvius, Italy ... 3,932 

42. Keilberg, Erzgebirge - - 3,910 

43. Schneebera, Fichtelgebirge - 3,600 

44. Brocken, Hartz .... 3,730 

45. Snowdon, Wales ... 3,568 

46. Schehallien, Grampians - - 3,564 

47. Cader Idris. Wales ... 3,550 

48. Macgillicuddy’s Reeks, Ireland 3,404 

49. Ben Lomond, Grampians - 3,262 

50. Schneekopp, Thuringian Forest 3.220 

51. Skiddaw, England - - - 3,022 

52. Ingleborough, England - - 2,361 

53. North Cape, Lapland - - 1,300 

ASIA. 

1. Chumularee, Himalayah - - 29,000 

2. Dhawalagiri, Himalayah - - 28,500 

3. Javaher, Himalayah - - 25,800 

4. Rudra, Himalayah - - - 23,000 

5. Jamautri, Himalayah - - 22,500 

6. Highest Peak of Hindoo Coosh - 20,000 

7. Elburz, Caucasus - - - 18,350 

8. Ararat, Great, Armenia - - 17,700 

9. Kazbek, Caucasus - - - 15,800 

10. Gounong Pasumbra, Sumatra - 15,270 

11. Goun. Pasaman, or Oph. Sumat. 14,160 


Eng. Feet. 


12. Ararat, Little, Armenia - - 13,500 

13. Alas Tag, Altai ... 11,620 

14. Highest Peak of Lebanon * 11,050 

15. Italitzkoi, Alta'i - - - 10,900 

16. Awutcha, Kaintschatka - 1 9,750 

17. Olympus, Asia Minor - - 9,100 

18. Highest Peak of Nilgherries - 8,835 

19. Sinai, Arabia - - - 7,952 

20. Tahtalou, Taurus ... 7,715 

21. Adam’s Peak, Ceylon - - 6,650 

22. Sabramani, Ghauts - - 5,750 

23. Ida, Asia Minor ... 5,435 

24. Chaizgour, Vindhya - - - 2,700 

25. Carmel, Palestine ... 2,250 

26. Tabor, Palestine ... 2,053 

AFRICA. 

1. Highest Peak of Cameroons - 13,000 

2. Peak ofTeneriffe ... 12,176 

3. Bernard, Bourbon Tsles - - 12,100 

4. Highest Peak of Atlas - -11,900 

5. Lamalmon, Abyssinia - - 11,300 

6. Compass, Sneuwberg, Africa - 10,250 

7. Komberg, S. Africa ... 8,330 

8. Fogo, Cape de Verd Isles - - 8,100 

9. Taranta, Abyssinia ... 7,980 

10. Pico Ruivo, Madeira ... 6,233 

11. Table Mountain, Africa - - 3,582 

12. Piter Boot, Maurit ius - - 2,790 

13. Diana’s Peak, St. Helena - - 2,710 


AMERICA. 

1. Sorata, Andes ... .25,400 

2. Illimani, Andes .... 24,200 

3. Gualatieri, Andes ... 22,000 

4. Chimborazo, Andes - - -21,000 

5. Cayambe, Andes ... 19,633 

6. Antisana, Andes ... 19,136 

7. Cotopaxi, Andes ... 18,867 

8. Tolima, Andes - - - 18,436 

9. Mount St. Elias, N. America - 18,000 

10. Popocatepetl, Mex. Cordillera - 17,780 

11. Pinchincha, Andes - - - 15,931 

12. Iztaccihuatl, Mex. Cordillera - 15,705 

13. Mount Fairweather, N. America 14,736 

14. Cofre dePerote, Mex. Cordillera 13,275 

15. James’s Peak, Rocky Mountains 11,500 

16. Sierra de Cobre, Cuba - - 9,000 

17. Grand Serrania, Hayti - - 9,000 

18. Duida, Parime .... 8,250 

19. Highest Peak of Blue Mountains, 

Jamaica.7,278 

20. Mount Washington, Alleghanies 6,650 

21. Mt. Sarmiento, Sts. of Magellan 6,000 

22. Mt. Oiter, Alleghanies - - 4,250 

23. Kaatskill, Alleghanies - - 3,150 

24. Cape Horn, South America - 1,860 

SOUTH SEA. 

1. Mouna Roa, Sandwich Isles - 15.980 

2. Mouna Koa, Sandwich Isles - 13,800 

3. Oroeno, Otaneite ... 8,350 

4. Egrnont Peak, New Zealand - 8,150 

5. Sea View Hill, Blue Mountains, 

New South Wales - - - 6,700 

6. Highest Peak of Barren Moun¬ 

tains, Van Diemen’s Land - 5,000 







COMPARATIVE HEIGHT OF MOUNTAINS 


31 










































































































32 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The lowland is formed principally of extensive plains little ele¬ 
vated above the level of the sea, on which we observe only small 
elevations of the surface. 

Extensive plains, destitute of water and covered with sand, are 
called Deserts. A fertile spot surrounded by the desert is called an 
Oasis. 

In the plains and valleys there are certain hollows or concavities, 
named river courses or river valleys, because through them rivers 
flow. 

The margin of the dry land, w r here it meets the waters of the ocean, 
has received the general name of coast or shore. 

Caves are openings of greater or less extent in the ground, which 
sometimes penetrate a great distance under the surface of the earth. 


26. VOLCANOES 


Volcanoes are openings in the earth, from which burning substances 
and melted matters, called lavas, are thrown out. 

The opening of a volcano is generally on the top of an elevated 
mountain, and is called a crater. 

Volcanoes do not constantly emit smoke, nor do lavas constantly 
flow from them. Sometimes a volcano remains for ages in a state of 
inactivity, and then an eruption suddenly breaks out. 



Crater of Etna, Fig. 15, 


27. GEOLOGY, 


The different structures observable in the crust of the earth are, 
1. The structure of mountain rocks in hand specimens; 2. Structure 

valleys ? Of what is the lowland principally formed ? What are deserts ? 
What is an oasis ? What are river valleys ? What is a coast ? What are 
caves ? 

What are volcanoes ? Where and what is a crater ? Are volcanoes always 
in action ? What number ? What countries are subject to earthquakes ? 
Which are the different structures observable in the crust of the earth ? 





GEOLOGY. 


33 


of strata and beds; 3. Structure of formations; 4. Arrangement of 
formations in regard to each other; 5. Structure of veins. 

1. The kinds of structure in mountain rocks are, 1. Compact; 2. 
Slaty; 3. Granular; 4. Porphyritic; 5. Amygdaloid; 6. Conglome¬ 
rated. 

In the compact structure the mass is uniform, without slaty or any 
other arrangement, of which common quartz is an example. In the 
slaty structure the rocks split readily into thin layers or plates, as in 
common slate. Rocks having the granular structure are composed of 
imperfect crystals, as in limestone. In the porphyritic structure there 
is a basis or ground, with imbedded crystals generally of felspar or 
quartz, as in porphyry. 

In the amygdaloidal structure there is also a basis or ground, though 
the base does not contain imbedded crystals, but amygdaloidal cavi¬ 
ties, empty or containing minerals. The conglomerated is that which 
we observe in the rock named conglomerate, which is composed of 
fragments imbedded in a basis or ground. 

2. When a mountain or hill is composed 
of tabular masses of the same kind of rock, 
as of sandstone, that extend through the hill, 
it is said to be stratified, and the individual 
tabular masses are named strata, as in Fig. 16. 

If among these strata there occur tabular 
masses of different rock, the masses are named Fl &- im¬ 

beds; thus, a , Fig. 16, represents a bed of limestone in the cliff of 
stratified sandstone. 

These strata and beds vary in position; sometimes they are flat or 
horizontal, or they are more or less inclined until they become vertical 
or are set on their edges. They also vary in the point of the compass 
towards which they are inclined, or dip. 

3. In the structure of formations, all those rocks which appear to 
have been formed at the same time, and which agree in position, 
structure, &c., are said to belong to the same formation. Simple 
formations are those chiefly composed of one rock; compound forma¬ 
tions include more than one species of rock. 

4. In the arrangement of formations with regard to each other, 
when two formations occur together and one rests upon the other, the 
subjacent formation is named the fundamental 
rock, and that which covers or lies upon the 
other, the superincumbent. 

The line where two rocks or formations 

meet is called the line of separation, or the,_ 

line of junction. In Fig. 17, a is the funda- Fig. 17. 




What kinds of structure in mountain rocks ? Can you describe the compact 
structure ? The slaty structure ? The granular structure ? The porphyritic 
structure ? The amygdaloidal structure ? The conglomerated structure ? 
What are strata ? What are beds ? Do strata and beds vary in position ? 
And in their inclination towards the point of the compass ? 

What rocks are said to belong to the same formation ? What rocks are 
called superincumbent ? What fundamental rocks ? What is the line where 























34 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 



Fie. 18. 



Fig. 19. 



Fig. 20. 




Fie. 22. 



Fig:. 23. 



Fie. 24. 



Fig. 25. 


mental rock, fe the superimposed rock, and 
cc the line of junction. 

When the strata of the superimposed 
formation is parallel with the strata of the 
fundamental or subjacent rock, the stratifica¬ 
tion is said to be conformable, as Fig. 18, 
when a formation a, we shall say of lime¬ 
stone, rests on b of sandstone. It the strata 
of the superimposed formation are disposed 
as at c, Fig. 19, they are said to be uncon- 
formable ; and if the strata lie over the ends 
of the strata of the fundamental rock, as at 
fee, Fig. 17, they are said to be unconformable 
and overlying. 

If the strata rest on the fundamental rock, 
as represented in Fig. 21, they are said to be 
saddle-shaped; if as represented in Fig. 20, 
they are said to be mantle-shaped; if dis¬ 
posed in a bason-shaped hollow, as in Fig, 
22, they are said to be bason-shaped ; if in a 
lengthened trough-like hollow, as in Fig. 23, 
they are said to be trough-shaped. 

In a mountain or natural section of rocks, 
the undermost strata are considered to be the 
oldest; therefore, on ascending a mountain, 
as that in Fig. 24, from a to fe, we pass from 
the newer to the older rocks; but it from c to 
fe, from the older to the newer. 

When formations occur in patches on the 
summits of hills, as represented at a a a, Fig. 
25, they are called mountain caps; when in 
hollows, as at fefe, they are called upfillings. 

I With respect to the structure of veins , they 
are tabular masses that intersect the strata 
and beds of the mountain or tract in which 
they occur. Veins like strata vary in posi¬ 
tion, and differ greatly in length, breadth, and 
depth. 

Veins appear to have been originally open 
rents or fissures traversing the strata, which 
have been filled by an after process with the 
mineral matters they now contain. 

When rents cut across strata, they some¬ 
times, as in Fig. 26, produce no derangement; 
while in other cases the strata on the opposite 


rocks meet called } What is meant by conformable stratification ? Uncon¬ 
formable stratification ? Unconformable and overlying ? When are the strata 
said to be saddle-shaped ? Mantle-shaped f Bason-shaped ? Trough-shaped ? 
In a mountain, which rocks are considered the oldest ? What are mountain 
caps f Upfillings ? What are veins ? What do veins appear to have been 























GEOLOGY. 


35 


sides of the rent do not correspond, owing to 
the strata on one side sinking down, as repre¬ 
sented in Fig. 27; this derangement is called 
a shift, slip, or fault. 

Such, then, are the different structures ob¬ 
servable in the great masses of which the 
crust of the earth is composed, which are 
again divided into different classes and spe¬ 
cies of rocks. 

The whole of the rocks* from the oldest to 
the newest, are arranged under the following 
classes, and in the following order:—1. Pri¬ 
mitive rocks; 2. Transition ; 3. Secondary; 

4. Tertiary; 5. Alluvial; 6. Volcanic. 

Primitive rocks lie under those of the succeeding classes, and con¬ 
sist of the following species :—1. Granite; 2. Syenite; 3. Protogine; 
4. Trap; 5. Serpentine; 6. Porphyry; 7. Gneiss; 8. Mica slate; 9. 
Clay slate; 10. Quartz rock; 11. Limestone. 

Of these rocks, one set, consisting of certain granites, with trap, 

f neiss, mica slate, clay slate, quartz rock, and limestone, are said to 
e of Neptunian origin, that is, have been deposited from a fluid, 
probably water; the others are named Plutonic, or igneous, it being 
probable that they have been formed from a state of igneous solution. 

Transition rocks, in the regular succession, rest immediately on 
those of the primitive class. In this class, also, there are Neptunian 
and Plutonian rocks. The Neptunian are, 1. Greywacke; 2. Tran¬ 
sition clay slate ; 3. Gneiss and mica slate; 4. Quartz rock; 5. Red 
sandstone; 6. Limestone; 7. Glance coal. The Plutonian are, 1. 
Granite; 2. Syenite; 3. Porphyry; 4. Trap ; 5. Serpentine. 

The secondary class of rocks rests in regular succession immedi¬ 
ately upon those of the transition class. In these, as in the preceding 
class, are Neptunian and Plutonian rocks. The Neptunian rocks 
are, 1. Sandstone; 2. Claystone; 3. Limestone; 4. Gypsum; 5. 
Coal. The Plutonian are, 1. Granite; 2. Porphyry; 3. Trap. 

The tertiary class of rocks, in the regular succession, rests imme¬ 
diately on the chalk or uppermost member of the tertiary class. The 
following are the Neptunian rocks, in their order from below upwards : 
1. Plastic clay; 2. London clay; 3. Gypsum with bones; 4. Supe¬ 
rior marine sandstone; 5. Upper fresh-water formation. The Pluto¬ 
nian are, 1. Trochyte; 2. Hasalt; 3. Dolerite or Greenstone; 4. 
Wacke ; 5. Amygdaloid; 6. Clinkstone or Phonolite. 

Alluvial rocks include the various calcareous deposites, as peat, 
clays, loams, sands, gravels, and rolled masses, or boulders, which, 
in regular succession, rest upon the uppermost tertiary rocks. They 

originally ? What is a shift, slip, or fault ? How are these structures again 
divided ? 

Which are the six classes of rocks ? Which are the species of primitive 
rocks ? Which of the primitive rocks are of Neptunian origin ? Which of 
Plutonian origin ? Which are the Neptunian transition rocks ? Which the 
Plutonian ? Which are the Neptunian tertiary rocks ? Which the Plutonian ? 









36 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


are, 1. Littoral or sea-coast alluvium; 2. River alluvium; 3. Lake 
alluvium; 4. Spring alluvium; 5. Rain alluvium; 6. Plutonian allu¬ 
vium, that formed and distributed over a country by the upraising of 
mountains. 

Volcanic rocks owe their origin to volcanoes. They consist of the 
old and new, or ancient and modern. Ancient volcanic rocks include 
those connected with volcanoes which have not been in a state of 
activity since the commencement of our history. Modem volcanic 
rocks consist of lavas, scoriae, ashes, and sands, which have issued 
from volcanoes of later periods. 


29. VARIETIES OF THE HUMAN RACE. 

There are five varieties of the human race, called the Caucasian, 
Mongolian, American, Negro, and Malay. 



Caucasian, Fig. 28. Mongol, Fig. 29. Indian, Fig. 30. 


The Caucasian, or white race, [Fig. 28,] has a wdiite skin, copious, 
soft, flowing hair, expanded forehead, narrow nose, and small mouth. 

The Caucasian race are spread over the greater part of Europe 
and western Asia, with the northern part of Africa. 

The Mongolian variety [Fig. 29] has an olive yellow skin, thin, 
Ct arse, straight hair, little beard, flattened face, small and low fore¬ 
head, wide nose, and thickened lips. 

The Mongolian variety is spread over the whole of the northern 
and eastern parts of Asia. The Esquimaux of America also belong 
to this race. 

In the American or Indian variety, [Fig. 30,] the skin is dark and 
more or less red, the hair black, straight, and strong, beard small, 
eyes sunk, forehead low, and other features somewhat projecting. 

The American or Indian race, blending with the Mongolian at the 
north, are spread over the whole of the new world. 

Which are the alluvium rocks ? Which are the volcanic rocks ? How 
divided ? 

Which are the five varieties of the human race ? Can you describe the 
Caucasian race P Where are the Caucasian race found P The Mongolian 
race P Where found ? The American race P Where found ? The Ethiopian 
race p Where found p The Malay race ? Where found ? 


POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 


37 


In the Ethiopian or African variety, [Fig. 31,] the skin is black, 
the hair short, black, and woolly, forehead low, narrow and slanting 
eyes, prominent nose, broad and flat, and lips thick. 

The Ethiopian race are spread over the whole of Africa, except the 
portion north of the Great Desert. 



African, Fig. 31. Malay, Fig. 32. 


The Malay race [Fig. 32] varies in the colour of the skin from a 
iight tawny to a deep brown, hair black, more or less curled, head 
rather narrow, nose full, and broad towards the tip. 

The Malay race occupy Malacca, the islands of the Indian Archi¬ 
pelago, and are also spread over the numerous islands of the Pacific 
Ocean. 


29. POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 

The elements of political power consist of monarchy, aristocracy, 
and democracy; while the public functions to be exercised within a 
state are the executive, legislative, and judicial. 

A kingdom is a state governed by a single person called a king, 
whose subjects are generally united by a similarity of language and 
manners; as France, Spain, Prussia. 

An empire consists of a number of detached kingdoms, united by 
conquest under one head ; as the Turkish, Persian, and Chinese. 

Republics consist of states which own the supremacy of no king 
or sovereign, but are governed by officers appointed by the people. 

Extensive republics are generally formed by a number of states 
united in a federal union; as the United States of America. 

Monarchy has been the most prevalent form of government. In 
some cases the monarch is wholly absolute; in others, more or less 
limited by privileged orders or elective bodies. 

Aristocracy, or the power vested in a privileged class, is seldom 
found as a distinct form of government, but has been frequently com¬ 
bined with a monarchy or democracy. 

Democracy is the name given to the government in which the 
sovereignty resides in the great body of the people. 

The legislative power is the supreme power of the state; and it 

Of what do the elements of political power consist ? What is a kingdom ? 
\n empire ? Republics ? How are extensive republics generally formed ? 
Ahat of monarchy ? Aristocracy ? Democracy ? What of the legislative 



38 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


establishes laws and regulations, to which the persons holding the 
executive and judicial functions are obliged to conform. 

The executive power is exercised by the person holding the highest 
authority in the state, whose duty it is to see that the laws are carried 
into effect. 

The judicial power provides for the security of persons and property 
amongst all ranks, and is therefore of great importance to the general 
prosperity. 

In civilized countries, every government, whether a kingdom, em¬ 
pire, or republic, is divided into provinces, departments, or states; 
and these again into smaller portions, which in the United States are 
called counties, with still smaller subdivisions called towns or town¬ 
ships. 

villages and towns consist of collections of houses built near each 
other. Cities are large towns incorporated by law, and enjoying 
some peculiar privileges with respect to their internal government. 

A city or town where the legislature meets to make the laws is 
called the capital, or seat of government. In the United States, the 
seats of government are often small towns, selected on account of their 
central situation. In other parts of the world, the largest city is gene¬ 
rally the seat of government. 

30. PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY. 

The sources of national wealth are agriculture, manufactures, and 
commerce, to which may be added the occupations of mining and 
fishing. 

Agriculture is the grand source from which human subsistence is 
derived. The modes in which subsistence is obtained from the land 
are hunting, pasturage, and tillage. 

Hunting, or the chase of wild animals to obtain their skins for 
clothing, and their flesh for food, is the earliest mode of procuring 
human support, and is almost the only occupation of a people living 
in a savage state. 

Pasturage, or the deriving subsistence from flocks and herds of tame 
animals, forms a more improved and comfortable occupation thar 
hunting. 

Nations subsisting by pasturage live in tents, and are often destitute 
of fixed abodes, which, joined to habits of war and robbery, constitute 
the barbarous state. 

Tillage, or the culture of the soil, by plowing and sowing, called 
agriculture, is employed by all the more improved nations, and those 
who practise it generally merit, to a great extent, the character of 
civilized people. 

power ? The executive power ? Judicial power ? What divisions usually 
exist in civilized countries ? What are villages and towns ? Cities ? What 
is a capital or seat of government ? In the United States, what towns are seats 
of government ? In other parts of the world ? 

What are the sources of national wealth ? What of agriculture and modes 
of subsistence ? What is the occupation of people in a savage state ? What 
of pasturage ? What is the occupation of barbarous nations ? Of civilized. 


39 


CIVIL AND SOCIAL CONDITION. 

Manufactiires may be regarded as the process by which mail can 
convert a rude and shapeless substance into one conducive to benefit, 
convenience, or ornament. 

Commerce produces nothing new, but only conveys articles which 
are abundant m one place, to another in which they are wanted. 

The instruments employed in conducting commerce, such as ship- 
ping, roads, and canals, form the fixed capital of a country. 

Fishing, or the procuring subsistence from the waters, forms a pe¬ 
culiar branch of industry which flourishes in every stage of society. 

Even the rudest savages conjoin fishing with hunting, and amongst 
civilized nations the whale, cod, and herring fisheries have become im¬ 
portant sources of national wealth. 

Mining is a branch of industry which brings from beneath the sur¬ 
face of the earth objects of great importance to the convenience and 
comfort of man. 

Mining can be extensively practised only in an advanced state of 
human industry, and requires the use of machinery and a degree of 
skill beyond the knowledge of the savage and barbarous state. 

31. CIVIL AND SOCIAL CONDITION. 

A national character is found to pervade every community. The 
grand distinction, founded on the progress of arts, letters, knowledge, 
and refinement, is into savage, barbarous, and civilized. ' 

Savage nations are destitute of arts, science, and literature; barba¬ 
rous nations possess them only in an imperfect degree, but among 
civilized nations they have arrived at a certain degree of maturity. 

The savage state prevails among the natives of America and the 
islands of the Pacific Ocean, and the barbarous state extends through¬ 
out Africa, and a great part of Asia. 

The civilized state is found in the great empires of Eastern Asia, 
and in a higher degree among the nations of Europe and their widely 
spread colonies. 

The religion professed by any people is also an important feature in 
their social condition. 

The inhabitants of the earth, with respect to religion, may be di¬ 
vided into three great classes, Christians, Mahomedans, and Pagans. 

With respect to numbers, the professors of the Christian ana Ma- 
homedan religions are about equal, while the inhabitants of Pagan 
countries exceed both united. 

Nations professing Christianity have acquired such an ascendency 
in the arts, and in political power, and their colonies are extending so 
rapidly, that in all probability it will soon be much more widely ex¬ 
tended. than any other. 

nations ? What of manufactures ? Commerce ? Fixed capital ? Fishing ? 
By whom is fishing practised ? What of mining ? By whom practised ? 

On what is the grand distinction of national character founded? What 
of savage nations ? Where does the savage state prevail ? The barbarous 
state ? The civilized state ? What of religion ? How may the inhabitants 
of the earth be divided with respect to religion ? What is the relative num¬ 
ber of professors of these three religions? What of nations professing 


40 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The Mahomedan nations, though they occupy some of the most 
fertile regions of the globe, as Arabia, Persia, and Turkey, are so de¬ 
cidedly surpassed by Christian people that their sway is not likely to 
endure for another century. 

Of the Pagan religion, the only civilized professors are those at¬ 
tached to theltindred doctrines of Brahma and Boodh, the one esta¬ 
blished in Hindoostan, and the others in China and the islands of 
Asia. 

Paganism prevails also over the whole of native Africa, among 
the aborigines of America, and partly over the islands of the Pacific 
Ocean. 

The Jews are the ancient inhabitants of Judea, and are now scat¬ 
tered amongst almost every nation on the globe, without embracing the 
religion of either of the other great divisions. 

Of the 800 millions of inhabitants supposed now to exist on the globe, 
the number of Christians is estimated at 175 millions, Mahomedans 
140 millions, Pagans 480 millions, and Jews 5 millions. 

Christianity ? Mahomedan nations ? Paganism ? Where does it prevail ? 
What of the Jews ? What number of each religion ? 


PART SECOND. 


DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 


LESSONS PREPARATORY TO THE STUDY OF DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 


32. The Earth . 

What is the earth ? The earth is 
a large globe, nearly eight thousand 
miles in diameter, and nearly twenty- 
five thousand miles in circumference. 

What is meant by diameter ? The 
distance through a round body. 

What is meant by circumference ? 
The distance round the surface. 

Of what does the surface of the 
lobe consist? About two-thirds of 
le surface of the globe is covered 
with a vast collection of water called 
the ocean, and one-third consists of 
dry land. 

Which are the great divisions of the 
ocean ? The great ocean consists of 
five divisions or basins, called the Pa¬ 
cific, Atlantic, Indian, Northern and 
Southern Ocean. 

Which are the great divisions of 
dry land ? The dry land consists of 
two great divisions, called continents. 
The eastern continent, which in¬ 
cludes Europe, Asia, and Africa, and 
the western continent, which includes 
North America and South America. 

33. Of Maps. 

"What is a map ? A map is a pic¬ 
ture or representation of the whole or 
any part of the earth’s surface. 

What two hemispheres or half 
globes do you observe on the map of 
the world on the globular projection ? 
The hemispheres on the map of the 
world on the globular projection, are 
the eastern on the right, and the west¬ 
ern on the left. 


What two hemispheres do you ob¬ 
serve on the map of the world on the 
polar projection ? The two hemi¬ 
spheres on the map of the world on 
the polar projection, are the northern 
on the right, and the southern on the 
left. 

What are the lines on the maps of 
the world running from the north to 
the south pole ? They are meridians, 
also called lines of longitude, because 
they point out the longitude of places 
through which they pass. 

How many degrees can the longi¬ 
tude of a place extend east or west of 
another place ? The longitude of a 
place can extend 180° east or west of 
another place, but no further, because 
that is half the distance round the 
globe. 

From what place is longitude usual¬ 
ly reckoned ? On maps of the world 
longitude is usually reckoned from 
London, but may be reckoned from 
any place. 

What is the equator ? The equator 
is an imaginary line extending round 
the earth, at an equal distance from 
both poles, and dividing the earth into 
two equal parts, called the northern 
and southern hemispheres. 

Wkat are lines of latitude ? Lines 
of latitude are lines extending round 
the earth parallel to the equator, 
showing the distance north or south of 
the equator in degrees. 

How many degrees may the latitude 
of a place extend north or south of 
the equator ? The latitude of a place 
may extend 90 degrees north or south 



42 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


of the equator, but no further, because 
that is the distance from the equator to 
the poles. 

What is the length of a degree in 
miles ? A degree of longitude at the 
equator is about 69| miles, but de¬ 
creases as we advance towards the 
poles, while a degree of latitude is 
also 69g miles, and remains the same 
on every part of the earth’s surface. 

What do you observe with respect 
to the numbers on the margins of the 
maps, and on the equator ? The num¬ 
bers on the right and left margins of 
maps show the latitude ; and the num¬ 
bers on the equator, on maps of the 
world, and on the upper and lower 
margins of other maps, show the lon¬ 
gitude. 

What must be observed with respect 
to the different parts of a map ? It 
must always be observed that the top 
of a map is the north part, the right 
hand east, the bottom south, and the 
left hand west. 

How should the learner be seated 
to study a map to the best advantage ? 
The face should be directed towards 
the north, because the top of the map 
being the north part, the map and the 
ortion of the world it represents are 
oth in the same direction. 

How should a range or chain of 
mountains be described ? Mountains 
should be described by telling how far, 
in what direction, and through what 
country they extend. 

How should an island be described ? 
In describing the situation of an island, 
tell the ocean, sea, or lake in which it 
is situated, and if near a country or 
coast, let it be mentioned. 

How should a river be described ? 
In describing a river, tell where it 
first rises, the general direction of its 
course, the country through which it 
flows, and mention the ocean, sea, 
lake, or other river into which it emp¬ 
ties. 

How should a lake, gulf, or bay be 
described ? A lake should be de¬ 
scribed by telling the part of the 
country in which it is situated, and a 
gulf or bay by telling the portion of 
country into which they extend, and 


the ocean, sea, or lake with which they 
are connected. 

How should the situation of a city 
or town be described? In describing 
the situation of a city or town, tell in 
what country or state it is, on what 
river, coast, or other water, and its 
direction from any other important 
place. 

How should the boundary of a coun¬ 
try or state be described ? In describ¬ 
ing the boundary of a country or state, 
teil first what places border on it on 
the north, then on the east, then on the 
south, and last on the west. 

34. Natural Divisions of TVater. 

What are the natural divisions of 
water besides the ocean ? The natural 
divisions of water besides the ocean 
are seas, gulfs, bays, straits, lakes, and 
rivers. 

What is a sea ? A sea is a collec¬ 
tion of salt water nearly surrounded 
by land, but communicating with the 
ocean. A sea containing a cluster of 
islands is called an archipelago. 

What is a gulf ? A gulf is a portion 
of water with a narrow entrance nearly 
surrounded by land. 

What is a bay ? A bay is a portion 
of water usually w ith a wide entrance 
extending up into the land. Harbours 
and roads are small bays where ships 
at anchor may lie in safety. 

What is a strait? A strait is a nar¬ 
row- passage from one sea to another. 
A broad strait is called a channel, and 
a shallow strait is called a sound. 

What is a lake ? A lake is a large 
collection of water, usually fresh, in 
the interior part of a country. Salt 
lakes are sometimes called seas. Very 
small lakes are called ponds. 

What is a river ? A river is a large 
stream of water formed by the union 
of two or more small streams called 
rills, brooks, creeks,or rivulets, which 
rise from springs. 

What are falls, cataracts, and cas¬ 
cades ? Falls, cataracts, and cascades 
are the sudden or perpendicular de¬ 
scent of a river or other stream of 
water over a precipice, in passing from 
a higher to a lower level. 


PRELIMINARY LESSONS. 


43 


35. Natural Divisions of Land. 

What are the most important natu¬ 
ral divisions of the dry land besides 
the two great divisions called conti¬ 
nents ? The most important divisions 
of dry land besides the continents are 
highlands and lowlands, valleys, is¬ 
lands, peninsulas, isthmuses, capes, 
and coasts. 

Of what do the highlands consist ? 
The highlands consist of extensive 
elevated fiortions called chains of 
mountains, of separate elevated por¬ 
tions called mountains, or of portions 
less elevated called hills. Mountains 
which emit smoke and flames are 
called volcanoes. 

What are valleys ? Valleys are the 
hollows which separate mountains or 
hills from each other. 

What are table lands ? Table lands 
are extensive elevated tracts of coun¬ 
try nearly level, being the expanded 
surface of a mountain chain. 

Of what does the lowland consist ? 
The lowland consists chiefly of ex¬ 
tended plains but little elevated above 
the surface of the ocean. 

What is a desert ? A desert is an 
extensive plain, destitute of water and 
covered with sand. A fertile spot 
surrounded by a desert is called an 
oasis. 

What is an island ? An island is a 
portion of land less than a continent, 
entirely surrounded by water. 

What is a peninsula ? A peninsula 
is a portion of land nearly surrounded 
by water ? 

What is an isthmus ? An isthmus 
is a narrow neck of land which con¬ 
nects a peninsula to some larger por¬ 
tion of land. 

What is a cape ? A cape is a por¬ 
tion of land projecting out into the 
ocean. A high cape is called a pro¬ 
montory. 

What is a coast or shore ? The 
margin of the dry land, where it 
meets the ocean, is called the coast or 
shore. 

36. Zones. 

What are the imaginary lines mark¬ 
ed on the maps of the world besides 


the equator, latitude and longitude ? 
The other imaginary lines marked on 
the maps of the world are the tropic 
of Cancer, the tropic of Capricorn, the 
Arctic circle, and the Antarctic circle. 

What is the space on both sides of 
the equator, between the tropics, call¬ 
ed ? The space on the surface of the 
earth, on both sides of the equator, 
between the tropics, is called the tor¬ 
rid zone, because the climate is always 
very warm. 

What are the spaces between the 
tropic of Cancer and the Arctic circle, 
and between the tropic of Capricorn 
and the Antarctic circle called ? They 
are called the temperate zones, be¬ 
cause the climate is neither very warm 
nor very cold. 

What are the spaces between the 
Arctic circle and the north pole, and 
the Antarctic circle and the south pole 
called? They are called the frigid 
zones, because an intense degree of 
cold prevails there during the greater 
part of the year. 

How many zones are there in all ? 
There are five zones in all; one tor¬ 
rid, two temperate, and two frigid. 

37. Political Divisions. 

What is a kingdom ? A kingdom 
is a country governed by a single per¬ 
son called a king. 

What is an empire ? An empire 
consists of several states or countries, 
united under one king, who is then 
called an emperor. 

What is a republic ? A republic 
consists of one or more states, which 
own the supremacy of no king or so¬ 
vereign. The United States is a fede¬ 
ral republic, including twenty-six in¬ 
dependent states. 

What are the usual subdivisions of 
kingdoms and empires ? Kingdoms 
and empires are often divided into 
provinces or departments, and from 
them again smaller divisions are form¬ 
ed, which are called by several names 
in different countries, as comities, pa¬ 
rishes, communes, &c. 

What are the subdivisions of each 
of the United States ? Each of the 
United States is divided into comities, 




44 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


except in South Carolina, ■where they 
are called districts, and in Louisiana, 
where they are called parishes. 

What are the subdivisions of the 
counties called ? The subdivisions of 
the counties in the New England 
states are called towns, and in the 
other states townships, except in the 
state of Delaware, where they are 
called hundreds. 

What are villages and towns ? Vil¬ 
lages and towns are collections of 
houses built near each other. A town 
which contains a court-house, jail, and 
other public buildings, is called a 
county town or shire town. 

What is a city ? A city is a large 
town incorporated by law, and enjoy¬ 
ing some peculiar privileges. 

What name is given to a city or 
town where the laws are made ? A 
city or town where the laws are made 
is called the capital or seat of govern¬ 
ment. 


QUESTIONS ON THE MAPS. 

38. Map of the World , showing geo¬ 

graphical Divisions. 

Can you point out an ocean on the 
map ? A sea ? An archipelago ? A 
gulf? A bay? A strait? A chan¬ 
nel ? A lake ? A river ? 

Can you point out a continent ? A 
range of mountains ? A volcano ? A 
desert ? A plain ? An oasis ? An 
island ? A peninsula ? An isthmus ? 
A cape ? A coast ? 

39. Map of the World on the globular 
Projection.—Western Hemisphere. 

Which are the two continents ? 

In what hemisphere is the western 
continent ? 

What two great divisions of the 
western continent ? 

Which of these two divisions is the 
larger ? 

How is South America situated with 
respect to North America ? 

Is the great range of American 
mountains near the eastern or western 
coast ? 

Where are the West Indies or West 


India Islands ? Where is Newfound¬ 
land ? Terra del Fuego? Green¬ 
land ? The Isthmus of Darien ? 

What ocean is north of America ? 
What ocean east ? What ocean south ? 
What ocean west ? 

Where is the Caribbean Sea ? The 
Gulf of Mexico ? Hudson’s Bay ? 
Baffin’s Bay ? Davis’s Strait ? Beh¬ 
ring’s Strait ? 

Where is Lake Superior ? Slave 
Lake? M’Kenzie’s River ? The Mis¬ 
souri ? Mississippi ? St. Lawrence? 
Amazon ? La Plata ? 

40. Eastern Hemisphere . 

In what hemisphere is the eastern 
continent ? 

W T hat three great divisions of the 
eastern continent ? Which is the larg¬ 
est ? Second in size ? Least ? 

Which is the largest island in the 
world ? Which the second in size ? 
Third ? Fourth ? What cluster of 
islands between New Holland and 
Asia ? 

What ocean north of Europe and 
Asia ? What ocean east of Asia ? 
What ocean south of Asia ? What 
ocean west of Africa and Europe ? 

Which is the largest sea of the east¬ 
ern continent ? Which of the two 
great divisions of land does the Medi¬ 
terranean Sea separate ? Where is 
the Baltic Sea? Black Sea? Red 
Sea ? China Sea ? 

Where is the Strait of Gibraltar ? 
Strait of Sunda ? Mozambique Chan¬ 
nel ? 

Where is the Gulf of Guinea ? Per¬ 
sian Gulf ? Bay of Bengal ? Caspian 
Sea ? Lake Baikal ? 

What large rivers in Asia ? In 
Europe ? In Africa ? 

What two ranges of mountains in 
Asia ? What two in Africa ? What 
one in Europe ? 

What great desert in Africa ? What 
great desert in Asia ? 

Where are the British islands ? 
Where is Iceland ? Nova Zembla ? 
The Japan islands? Ceylon? Mada¬ 
gascar ? 

Where is the Peninsula of Malac¬ 
ca ? The Peninsula of Kamtschatka ? 


PRELIMINARY LESSONS. 


45 


What Isthmus connects Africa with 
Asia ? 

Where is the Cape of Good Hope ? 
Cape Yerd ? Cape Lopatka ? 

41. World on the globular and 
polar Projection. — Eastern , west¬ 
ern, northern , and southern He¬ 
mispheres. 

What two hemispheres do you ob¬ 
serve in the map of the world on the 
globular projection ? Which hemi¬ 
sphere contains the largest portion of 
land, the eastern or western ? Which 
the largest portion of water ? What 
large island in the eastern hemi¬ 
sphere ? 

What two hemispheres do you ob¬ 
serve on the map of the world on the 


polar projection ? Which hemisphere 
contains the most land, the northern 
or southern ? Which hemisphere the 
most water ? What large island in 
the southern hemisphere r 

42. Through what great division 
does the equator pass? The tropic 
of Cancer ? The Arctic circle ? The 
tropic of Capricorn ? The Antarctic 
circle ? What zone lies on both sides 
of the equator, between the tropics of 
Cancer and Capricorn ? W T hat zone 
lies between the tropic of Cancer and 
the Arctic circle ? What zone between 
the Arctic circle and the north pole ? 
What zone between the tropic of 
Capricorn and the Antarctic circle ? 
What zone between the Antarctic cir¬ 
cle and the south pole ? 


46 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


AMERICA. 


America is a vast continent, comprising one of the grand 
divisions of the globe. The western hemisphere, indeed, con¬ 
tains scarcely any land that is not American, though the land is 
not quite half as much as belongs to the eastern hemisphere. 

America is bounded on each side by the greatest of the oceans. On 
the north is the Arctic Ocean, divided by huge islands into numerous 
bays and inlets; while on the south it presents a stormy cape to the 
great Southern or Antarctic Ocean. 

The northern boundary is now found to have a general range of 
about 70° north latitude, while the southern extremity terminates in 
latitude 56° south; making the entire range of the continent more 
than 9000 miles, with a very irregular breadth. 

North America, exclusive of the islands that surround it. 
contains about nine millions of square miles. Presenting a broaa 
front to the Arctic seas, it gradually expands in width to about 
latitude 50° north, when it again contracts its breadth till it ter¬ 
minates in the narrow isthmus of Darien or Panama. 

North America has been divided into five physical regions : 1. The 
table land of Mexico, with the low country along its shores. 2. The 
slope lying between the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ocean. 3. The 
great valley of the Mississippi. 4. The eastern declivities of the Al¬ 
leghany Mountains. 5. The great northern plain beyond 50° north 
latitude, a bleak and barren waste covered with lakes. 

South America comprises a surface of six and a half millions 
of square miles ; its length being 4500 miles, and its greatest 
breadth 3200 miles. It is also divided into five physical regions; 
1. The low country between the Pacific and the Andes. 2. The 
basin of the Orinoco. 3. The basin of the Amazon. 4. The 
great southern plain of the La Plata. 5. The high country of 
Brazil east of the Parana and Paraguay. 

One chain of mountains, the largest, and, with one exception, the 
loftiest on the globe, extends from the northern to the southern ex¬ 
tremity of America. In North America this chain is called the Ore¬ 
gon, and in South America the Andes, which, under the equator, shoots 
up into the summits of Chimborazo and Antisana, and also contains 
numerous volcanoes. 

A chain of mountains also pervades the eastern coast of this eonti- 


What is America ? What is its situation ? What of its length and breadth ? 
How many square miles in North America ? Which are the physical regions 
of North America ? What is the extent of South America ? Which are the 
physical regions of South America ? What great chain of mountains in Ame¬ 
rica ? By what name is it called in North America ? In South America ? 
What other chain of mountains ? What table lands in America ? Wliat of 


AMERICA. 


47 


nent in North America, called the Apalachian or Alleghany, and in 
South America known under various names in different places. 

Table lands, or elevated plains, form a characteristic feature in 
American geography. The principal is that which covers the whole 
of Mexico, with part of Guatimala, rising to the height of 6000 feet. 
Upper Peru also comprises a large extent of elevatea plain, and cities 
are built there at a greater elevation than on any other part of the 
globe. 

The rivers of America are unrivalled, both for their length and for 
the mass of waters they pour into the ocean. The two largest have a 
course of full 4500 miles, and each of them receives hundreds of tri¬ 
butary streams before their waters reach the ocean. 

Lakes in the north part of the continent are numerous and important; 
and those of Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior, forming 
the largest body of fresh water on the globe, discharge their accumu¬ 
lated waters by the great river St. Lawrence into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Of all the countries in the world, America has the greatest 
range of vegetable productions, extending, as it does, from be¬ 
yond the Arctic circle in the north nearly to the Antarctic circle 
in the south, and including a range of the most remarkable 
mountains in the world. 

The animal kingdom in America em¬ 
braces a vast and diversified region, in¬ 
cluding three great divisions: the north¬ 
ern or arctic, the middle, and the south¬ 
ern or tropical. 

The great white polar bear [Fig. 33] and 
the musk ox are peculiar to the Arctic re¬ 
gions, w'hile the moose, carabou, and com¬ 
mon deer, wolf, wolverine, lynx, ermine, 
martin, fox, leming, hare, otter, beaver, mar¬ 
mot, and various other fur-bearing animals, White Bear, Fig. 33. 
are also found in the middle region. 

Of the birds, the Canadian grouse [Fig. 34] 
is a species peculiar to this continent; and 
swans, geese, ducks, cranes, and other wa¬ 
terfowl, are found in great numbers in the 
lakes and along the borders of the ocean. 

The middle, or temperate division, com¬ 
mences with Canada and terminates with 
the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the northern 
quadrupeds range over these temperate re¬ 
gions, while others not found towards the 
pole exhibit no striking peculiarities. 

During the summer, also, numerous flocks Grouse, Fig. 34. 
of warblers, flycatchers, woodpeckers, star- 

American rivers ? What of American lakes ? What of the vegetable pro¬ 
ductions ? The animal kingdom ? Which are the principal animals in the 
north ? Birds ? What animals in the temperate region ? Birds ? What of 





48 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


lings, and thrushes, make their appearance 
in these latitudes, and, after rearing their 
young, return in winter to more southern 
climates. Among them the most remarkable 
is the Virginia mocking-bird, [Fig. 35,] 
which is endowed with a perfection of voice 
far exceeding any other bird in creation. 

The tropical, or third great division of 
America, comprises the whole of the portion 
south of the Gulf of Mexico; and no words 
can do justice to the splendour of the produc¬ 
tions of this luxuriant region. 

With respect to quadrupeds, the monkeys are found in great num¬ 
ber and variety; while the different lynxes of North America give 
place to the jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and long-tailed tiger cats. 

The tapir is the largest native animal; and the sloths and armadil- 
loes are found in all the hot countries of the new world, of which also 
the great ant-eater [Fior. 36] is a native, while bats of many species 
swarm in the brief twilight of a tropical evening. 





Great Ant-eater, Fig. 36. 


Humming-bird, Fig. 37. 


The birds of tropical America exceed in splendour those of any 
other region of the globe. The humming-birds, [Fig. 37,] parrots, 
toucans, and hang-nest orioles, [Fig. 38, j are among those which 
have more particularly attracted attention. 



the tropical region ? What animals ? "Which is the largest native animal, and 
others peculiar to this region i What of the birds ? The fruit-eating birds i 


AMERICA. 


49 


Among the fruit-eating birds the chatterers claim particular notice, 
and especially the umbrella chatterer, [Fig. 39,] which has a large 
crest of feathers on its head resembling an umbrella. 

The rapacious birds are numerous and formidable, the chief of 
which is the famous condor of the Andes. The king of the vultures, 
and two or three other kinds of a black colour, are always found where 
there is a dead carcass. The destroying eagle exceeds all others in 
strength; and there are numerous races of buzzards, kites, and falcons, 
totally different from those of Europe or Africa. 

The-water birds are few, from the absence 
of large lakes; but the marshes are frequent¬ 
ed by jacamas or spur-winged water-hens, 

[Fig. 40,] tiger bitterns, and a few ducks, 
and the lakes of Mexico appear to be stocked 
with a profusion of water-fowl. 

Of the domestic animals, horses and oxen, 
originally brought from the old continent, 
have prodigiously multiplied in the new 
world, both in the tame and wild state. 

The llama, a native animal, is chiefly con¬ 
fined to the Andes of Peru arid Chili. 

The discovery of America, the most brilliant naval achieve¬ 
ment of modern times, was performed by Christopher Columbus 
in the year 1492; who, sailing in search of a shorter passage to 
the East Indies, landed at St. Salvador, one of the Bahamas, 
and, sailing onwards, discovered the greater islands of Cuba 
and Hispaniola. 

His next voyage, the following year, enabled him to discover 
others of the West Indian islands; and his third voyage, in 1498, 
brought him in view of the American continent, at the mouth of 
the great river Orinoco. 

Meantime, in 1497-8, John and Sebastian Cabot, employed 
by Henry VII. of England, discovered Newfoundland, and 
navigated along a considerable portion of the eastern coast of 
North America; and Cortereal, a Portuguese nobleman, in 
1501, discovered the mouth of the St. Lawrence. 

The conquest of America by Europeans was attended with scenes 
of cruelty of which there is no example in history; and the natives of 
the West Indies, where the Spaniards first landed, were entirely ex¬ 
terminated, while those of Peru and Mexico were reduced to a state 
of bondage. 

The emancipation of the greater part of the European colonies from 
the mother country is a grand event which has taken place within the 

Rapacious birds ? Water birds? What of the domestic animals ? Who dis¬ 
covered America ? What was he in search of? Where did he first land ? 
What did he discover in his second and third voyages ? Who discovered the 
coast of North America ? Who discovered the mouth of the St. Lawrence ? 
What of the conquest of America by Europeans ? What of the emancipation 
of the colonies from the mother country? What is the population of Ame- 




50 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

last half century, and has given the whole civilized world a new 
aspect. 

The population of America, with its dependent islands, is 
estimated at forty-two millions; of which sixteen millions may 
be whites, ten millions native races, eight millions negroes, and 
eight millions mixed races. The whites are chiefly English in 
the north and Spaniards in the south, with some French, Portu¬ 
guese, Germans, Dutch, Danes, and Swedes. 

According to the best estimates, the population of each of the divisions of 
America is as follows:— 


The United States 

- 12,866,192 

New Granada 

- 

- 

1,680,192 

British America 

- 2,150,000 

Venezuela 

- 

- 

900,000 

Russian America - 

50,000 

Equador 

- 

- 

650,000 

Danish America 

110,000 

Peru 

- 

- 

1,700,000 

Spanish Islands 

- 1,050,000 

Bolivia 

- 

- 

1,300,000 

Hayti - - - 

600,000 

Chili - 

. 

_ 

1,400,000 

French America 

240,000 

La Plata 

. 

_ 

700,000 

Dutch America 

114,000 

Uruguay 

- 

_ 

70,000 

Swedish America - 

16,000 

Paraguay 

- 

- 

250,000 

Mexico - 

- 8,000,000 

Brazil 

- 

. 

5,000,000 

Guatemala 

- 2,000,000 

Independent Indians 

- 

1,400,000 


The native tribes who still survive are partly held in subjection by 
European Americans, but a still greater number wander over their ex¬ 
tensive wilds in rude independence, subject only to their own chiefs 
or caziques. 

The European colonists, who were long held in subjection to 
the mother countries, the chief of which are Spain and Great 
Britain, after establishing their independence, have adopted the 
republican form of government, to which even Brazil, though in 
form a limited monarchy, seems strongly inclined. 

The industry of America is in a high degree agricultural, and from 
it Europe is supplied with sugar, coffee, cotton, tobacco, and other 
tropical productions; in exchange for which, with timber, hides, and 
furs, the Americans receive all the variety of manufactures produced 
by European industry and skill. 

The European Americans have generally retained the religious 
creed of the mother country; so that in the French, Spanish, and 
Portuguese colonies the Roman Catholic religion prevails, and in the 
countries settled by the English the colonists are chiefly of the Pro¬ 
testant persuasion. 

The negroes generally, and some of the native tribes, have at least 
been instructed in the elements of Christianity; so that the whole 
number of Roman Catholics may be estimated at twenty-five and a 
half millions, Protestants at fifteen millions, and unconverted Indians 
nt one and a half millions. 

rica ? What classes ? Which are the divisions of America, with population 
of each ? What of the native tribes ? What of the industry of America ? 
What of the religion of the European Americans ? Negroes and native tribes? 
How many Roman Catholics ? Protestants ? Unconverted Indians ? 



AMERICA. 


51 


Divisions.—Mat) of the World , North America , and South America .— 
In which hemisphere is America I How is America bounded ? How 
is North America bounded ? Which are the divisions of North Ame¬ 
rica! In what part of North America are the British possessions'? 
The north part. The Russian possessions? The northwest part. 
The United^ States? The middle part. Mexico? The southwest 
part. Guatimala ? South part. 

How is South America bounded ? Which are the divisions of South 
Amerioa? In what part of South America is Colombia? Guiana? 
Brazil? Peru? Chili? La Plata? Paraguay? Montevideo. 

Mountains —What is a mountain ? What great range of mountains 
extends from near the Arctic Ocean to the Isthmus of Darien ? What 
gTeat range of mountains extends from the Isthmus of Darien to the 
southern extremity of South America? Where are the Alleghany 
Mountains ? The Ozark Mountains ? Are there any mountains near 
the eastern coast of South America ? 

Islands. —What is an island ? Where are the West India Islands ? 
The Bermudas? Newfoundland? Anticosti? Southampton? Mel¬ 
ville Island ? Kodiak ? Joanes Island ? Terra del Fuego ? Juan Fer¬ 
nandez ? The Falkland Islands ? 

Peninsulas .— What is a peninsula ? Where is the peninsula of Ca¬ 
lifornia? Of Yucatan? Florida? Nova Scotia? Alaska? Melville 
Peninsula ? Peninsula de St. Joseph ? Peninsula des Tres Montes ? 

Capes .— What is a cape ? Where is Cape Farewell ? Cape Race ? 
Cape Sable ? Cape St. Antonio ? Cape San Lucas ? Cape Newn- 
ham ? Icy Cape ? Cape Walsingham ? Cape Verd ? Cape St. Roque ? 
Cape Horn ? Cape Blanco ? 

Gufs .— What is a gulf? Where is the Gulf of Mexico ? Gulf of 
St. Lawrence? Gulf of California ? Bahama Gulf? Franklin’s Gulf? 
Liddons’ Gulf? Gulf of Maracaibo ? Gulf of Darien ? 

Straits. —What is a strait? What is a sound ? W T hat is a channel ? 
W T here is Behring’s Strait ? Davis’ Strait ? Hudson’s Strait ? Lan¬ 
caster Sound? Cumberland Strait? Strait of Belle Isle? Nootka 
Sound ? Queen Charlotte’s Sound ? Strait of Magellan ? 

Sea and Lakes. —What is a sea ? What is a lake ? W T here is the 
Caribbean Sea ? Where is Lake Superior ? Lake Huron ? Erie ? On¬ 
tario ? Michigan ? Winnipec ? Slave Lake ? Lake Nicaragua ? Lake 
Maracaibo ? Lake Titicaca ? 

Rivers. —What is a river ? Where is the Mississippi River ? The 
Missouri? Arkansas? Rio del Norte? Colorado? Oregon? McKen¬ 
zie’s River ? River St. Lawrence ? Magdalena ? Orinoco ? Amazon ? 
Tocantins? Madeira? St. Francisco? La Plata? Paraguay? Uru¬ 
guay ? Parana ? 


52 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


THE UNITED STATES. 


The United States of North America possess a territory of 
vast extent, including the larger part of what is valuable and 
productive on this part of the continent, and they form the 
greatest and most influential power that exists in the new world. 

The United States, from the great lakes to the Gulf of Mexi¬ 
co, have a breadth of about 1600 miles, and from the Atlantic to 
the Pacific Ocean, a length of 2500 miles, including a surface of 
2,300,000 square miles. 

The mountains of the United States consist almost entirely 
of the Alleghany range, along the eastern coast, which seldom 
rises over 4000 teet in height, and the Rocky Mountains, which 
traverse the western side of the continent, and rise to the height 
of 10,000 or 12,000 feet. 

The rivers of the United States form a grand and most im¬ 
portant feature. Those east of the Alleghany Mountains do not 
attain a very extensive course, but the system of rivers in the 
great basin, including the Mississippi, Missouri, and their tribu¬ 
taries, has but one equal, that or the Amazon, throughout the 
world. 


The United States have a share in the greatest lake chain in the 
world, that of Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, the boundary be¬ 
tween Canada and the United States passing through their centre, 
but Lake Michigan lies wholly within tneir limits. 

Among the most important vegetable productions of the United 
States are the forest trees, which formerly occupied so vast a portion 
of the country, but are now rapidly diminishing, on account of the 
great demand for timber. The pine tribe especially is of great im¬ 
portance, on account of the constant demand for its timber, both for 
domestic use and for exportation to foreign countries. 

The magnolia, [Fig. 41,] in the southern 
i part of the United States, is characterized by 
I its splendid blossoms, which give the most 
! enchanting appearance to the forests where it 
i is found. 

The elm, ash, hickory, and walnut, have a 
very extended range, and the sugar maple 
found in the northern part is well known for 
^ its saccharine sap, yielding a valuable sugar. 
Two remarkable plants are peculiar to the 



Magnolia, Fig. 41. 


United States, the saracenia, [Fig. 42,] or side 
saddle plant, and the dionaj, or fly-trap. The 


What do the United States include ? What is the extent of the United 
States ? What mountains ? What of the rivers ? What of the lakes ? 
Which are the most important vegetable productions ? What of the magno¬ 
lia ? What other important trees i What two plants peculiar to the United 


THE UNITED STATES. 


53 


side saddle plant grows in swampy places, 
and has a flower shaped like a pitcher contain¬ 
ing water, in which myriads of insects enter 
and perish. 

The fly-trap [Fig. 43] has a most curious 
apparatus for ensnaring insects, for when a 
fly lights on its centre the sides meet, and the 
spines secure the poor insect, which in this 
manner meets imprisonment and death. 

The native animals of the United States 
have been gradually diminishing as cultivation 
has advanced, and are now found in great 
numbers only in the vast plains of the west. 

The bison, or American buffalo, never 
common along the eastern coast, has gra¬ 
dually retired before the white population, 
but vast and countless herds of them roam 
over the fertile regions west of the Missis¬ 
sippi. 

The moose and common deer were formerly 
found in this region, but are fast disappearing 
in the more thickly settled states; while the 
wolf, fox, raccoon, opossum, badger, fisher, 
martin, and ermine are among the more com¬ 
mon species. 

The black bear [Fig. 44] inhabits every 
wooded district in North America; and is of a 
milder disposition, and lives more on vegeta¬ 
bles, than the black bear of Europe. 

The grisly bear, inhabiting the Rocky 
Mountains, is a much more formidable ani¬ 
mal than the black bear; when full grown, 
it weighs 800 pounds, measures nine feet in 
length, and is so strong and furious that the 
hunters approach it with the greatest caution. 

The cougar or puma, usually called the pan¬ 
ther, [Fig. 45,] the largest animal of the cat 
kind found in America, appears to have been 
originally spread over the warm and temperate 
regions of the whole continent, and is still 
sometimes killed in the wild and less fre¬ 
quented regions of the United States. 

Among the rapacious birds are several kinds 
of hawks and owls, while the turkey vulture 
and black vulture are also common. 

The largest eagle is the bald or -white- 
headed species, [Fig. 4G,] well known as the 



Saracenia, Fig. 42. 



Black Bear, Fig. 44. 



Panther, Fig. 45. 


States ? What of the native animals ? What of the bison ? What of the 
moose and common deer ? Which are among the common species ? W hat 
of the black bear ? Grisly bear ? Cougar ? What of the rapacious birds i 



54 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 



Bald Eagle, Fig. 46. 



m 

Woodcock, Fig. 47. 


emblem adopted for the coat of arms of the 
United States. 

The mocking-bird possesses an unrivalled 
voice, but the Virginia nightingale is more 
admired for its rich scarlet plumage than the 
melody of its song. The wild turkey, a na¬ 
tive of this region, is still found in flocks in 
the remote districts, and there are two species 
of grouse, and one of the partridge. 

The wading birds do not generally resem¬ 
ble those of Europe. The American wood¬ 
cock [Fig. 47] is equal to that of Europe in 
size, ana the flamingo has a deeper scarlet 
, colour, and is a more beautiful bird, than that 
of the old continent. Ducks and other water- 
fowl are numerous. 

Of the reptile tribe, the alligator is found in 
all the rivers in the southern part of the United 
States. Rattlesnakes of several species, all 
of which are peculiar to America, are met 
with throughout the whole extent of country. 
Fish in gredt numbers and variety are found 
in the adjoining ocean, and in the lakes and rivers. 

The discovery of North America closely followed that of 
America in general. It was in 1492 that Columbus first landed 
on Hispaniola, and the century had not closed when the two 
Cabots had explored the whole coast, including that of the 
United States, as far north as Labrador. 

But it was not till the year 1608, that the first permanent set¬ 
tlement was made by the English in the United States, which 
was that of Jamestown in Virginia. In 1620 another settlement 
was made at Plymouth, in Massachusetts, and from them and 
others which soon after followed, the present population of the 
United States has been gradually extended. 

The government of the United States is decidedly republi¬ 
can. The general government makes war and peace, conducts 
all negotiations with foreign powers, and provides for the de¬ 
fence of the nation as a united body. 

The executive power is vested in the president of the United 
States, who is elected every four years by electors appointed by 
the people, and he, in conjunction with the senate, makes all 
appointments to office, both civil and military. 

The legislative branch consists of two bodies, a senate and 
house of representatives. The senate consists*)! two members 


What other birds ? What of the wading birds ? What of the reptile tribe ? 
What of the discovery of North America, including the United States? 
When and where was the first permanent settlement made ? What other set¬ 
tlement in 1620 ? What is the government of the United States ? In whom 
is the executive power vested ? Of what does the legislative branch consist ? 


THE UNITED STATES. 


55 


from each state, who are elected for six years, one-third of the 
members being changed every two years. 

The members of the house of representatives are elected by the 
people for two years, and at present every 47,700 inhabitants sends 
one representative to congress. 

The state governments are similar to that of the United States. 
They have each a governor, senate, and house of representatives, by 
whom laws are made, and all matters conducted relating to their in¬ 
ternal and domestic concerns. 

The supreme judicial power resides in a chief justice of the United 
States and several associate justices, who are appointed by the presi¬ 
dent, with the advice and consent of the senate, and hold their offices 
during life or good behaviour. 

The revenue of the United States is chiefly derived from duties on 
imports, and bv the sale of public lands, direct taxation having been 
heretofore rarely resorted to. 

The military force of the United States consists almost entirely of 
militia, the regular army, except in time of war, having been always 
on a very small scale. 

The United States navy, though small when compared with some 
of the European powers, acquired great reputation during the last 
war with England, and has been since gradually augmented. 

In regard to industry and wealth, the United States are already 
great, but excite a much deeper interest by their vast resources, by 
their rapid progress, and by the future magnitude they are almost sure 
to attain. 

Agriculture is the leading pursuit in the United States, and the pro¬ 
ducts of the land embrace almost every variety of grain and fruits. 

Manufactures are already extensive and in a rapid state of advance¬ 
ment, though large importations, chiefly of the finer articles, are still 
made from Europe. 

Commerce is carried on with great activity; grain, cotton, and to¬ 
bacco are the leading articles of export, for which the finer fabrics of 
woollen, cotton, and iron are chiefly received in return. 

Fishing is carried on extensively, but by the eastern states almost 
exclusively. The whale fishery is prosecuted both in the Northern and 
Southern Oceans, and the cod, mackerel, and herring fishery on the 
banks of Newfoundland and along the coast. 

In addition to the great extent of natural water communication in 
the United States, numerous canals have been made, which, with the 
addition of railroads, afford great facilities both for transportation and 
travelling. 

The population of the United States amounted in 1830 to 12,866,102, 
an astonishing number when considered as existing in a region which 

What of the senate ? House of representatives ? Can you describe the state 
governments ? What of the supreme judicial power ? From what is the 
revenue derived ? Of what does the military force consist ? What of the 
United States navy ? What of the industry and wealth of the United States ? 
Agriculture ? Manufactures ? Commerce? Fishery? Canals and railroads ? 
What of the population ? What number of states ? What is the population 



56 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


a little more than two hundred years ago was only a boundless wilder¬ 
ness, peopled by a few scattered bands of savages. 

The original number of states which declared themselves inde¬ 
pendent on the 4th of July, 1776, was thirteen, but by the admission 
of new states, now amounts to twenty-six, all united under the same 
federal government, besides the District of Columbia and two organ¬ 
ized territories, of which the following table gives a general view. 

The population of each of the United States, according to five offi¬ 
cial enumerations, w'as as follows: 


States. 

1790. 

1800. 

| 1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

Maine, 

96,540 

151,719 

228,705 

298,335 

399,955 

New Hampshire, 

141,899 

183,762 

214,360 

244,161 

269,328 

Y ermont, 

85,416 

154,465 

217,713 

235,764 

280,652 

Massachusetts, 

378,717 

423,245 

472,040 

523,287 

610,408 

Rhode Island, 

69,110 

69,122 

77,031 

83,059 

97,199 

Connecticut, 

238,141 

251,002 

262,042 

275,202 

297,665 

New York, 

340,120 

586,756 

959,949 

1,372,812 

1,918,608 

New Jersey, 

184,139 

211,949 

249,555 

277,575 

320,823 

Pennsylvania, 

434,373 

602,365 

810,091 

1,049.458 

1,348,233 

Delaware, 

59,096 

64,273 

72,674 

72,749 

76,748 

Maryland, 

319,728 

341,548 

380,546 

407,350 

447,040 

Virginia, 

748,308 

880,200 

974,622 

1,065,379 

1,211,405 

North Carolina, 

393,751 

478,103 

555,500 

638,829 

737,987 

South Carolina, 

249,073 

345,591 

415,115 

502,741 

581,185 

Georgia, 

Alabama, 

82,548 

162,101 

252,433 

20,845 

340,987 

127,901 

516,823 

309,527 

Mississippi, 

Louisiana, 


8,850 

40,352 

76,556 

75,448 

153,407 

136,621 

215,739 

Tennessee, 

35,791 

105,602 

261,727 

422,813 

681,904 

Kentucky, 

73,077 

220,955 

406,511 

564,317 

687,917 

Ohio, 


45,365 

230,760 

581,434 

937,903 

Indiana, 

Illinois, 

Missouri, 

Michigan, 

Arkansas, 


4,875 

24,520 

12,282 

20,845 

4,762 

147,178 

55,211 

66,586 

8,896 

14,273 

343,031 

157,455 

140,445 

31,639 

30,388 

Dist. of Columbia, 
Florida Territory, 


14,093 

24,023 

33,039 

39,834 

34,730 

Total, 

1 3,929,827 

5,305,925 

1 7,239,814 

9,638,131 - 

12,866,192 


The United States having been peopled from different nations of 
Europe, there is, in some degree, a diversity in language, and want 
of uniformity in national character, -which, however, is entirely ab¬ 
sorbed in one sentiment, that of being a nation of freemen. 

In religion, the people of the United States have adopted the system 
of cutting off all connexion between church and state. Individuals 
or classes of believers choose their own religious guides, and provide 
entirely for their support. 

of each of the states ? What of the national character ? Religion ? Litera¬ 
ture ? 




















THE UNITED STATES. 


57 


Literature and science in the United States have not yet reached the 
high elevation they have attained in Europe, but numerous colleges 
and literary institutions have been established, some of which have a 
high reputation, and the benefits of a good common education are 
more generally diffused than in any other country in the world. 


Map of the United States. —How are the United States bounded ? 
What city is the capital of the United States'? On what river is 
Washington City'? Which of the United States extends furthest 
north ? Which furthest east ? Which furthest south 1 Which fur¬ 
thest west? Which of the United States are bounded by the Atlantic 
Ocean ? Which by the Gulf of Mexico ? What state is bounded by 
Lake Ontario ? What states by Lake Erie ? What states by Lake 
Michigan ? What state is bounded by three great lakes ? 

Mountains .—Where are the Alleghany Mountains ? Through what 
states do the Alleghany Mountains extend ? Where are the Cumber¬ 
land Mountains? The Ozark Mountains? Where are the Oregon 
or Rocky Mountains ? 

Islands. —Where is Long Island? Nantucket? Martha’s Vine¬ 
yard ? What islands in Lake Huron ? What island in Lake Supe- 
rior ? 

Peninsulas .— Where is the Peninsula of Cape Cod ? Where is the 
Peninsula of Florida ? 

Capes .—Where is Cape Cod? Cape May? Cape Henlopen? 
Cape Charles? Cape Henry? Cape Hatteras? Cape Lookout? 
Cape Fear? 

Bays .—Where is Casco Bay? Boston Bay? Delaware Bay? 
Chesapeake Bay ? Tampa Bay? Apalachie Bay ? Sanganaw Bay? 
Green Bay? 

Sounds .—Where is Long Island Sound ? Albemarle Sound ? Pam¬ 
lico Sound ? 

Lakes .—Where is Lake Champlain ? Lake Ontario ? Lake Erie ? 
Lake Michigan ? Lake Superior ? 

Rivers. —Where is the Penobscot River ? The Connecticut River ? 
The Hudson? Delaware? Susquehanna? Potomac? James River? 
Roanoke? Pamlico? Neuse? Cape Fear? Great Pedee? Santee? 
Savannah? Alatamaha? St. John’s River? Apalachicola? Alaba¬ 
ma ? Pearl River ? Mississippi ? Red River ? Arkansas ? Ohio ? 
Tennessee ? Cumberland ? Illinois ? Missouri ? Kanses ? La 
Platte ? Oregon ? Lewis* River ? Clarke’s River ? 


Map of the Learner's own State .—What is a state ? In what state 
do you live ? How is your state bounded ? W T hat is the capital of 
your state ? Is it on a river or other stream of water ? Is there any 
town or city larger than the capital in your state ? 

Which are the principal rivers in your state ? Are there any lakes 
In your state ? Are there any bays or gulfs in or bordering on your 
state ? Is your state bounded on any part by the ocean ? Are there 
any noted capes in your state ? Are there any large islands belong¬ 
ing to your state ? Are there any mountains in your state ? If so* 
wiiat is their general course and direction ? 



58 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


What is a county! How many counties are there in your state ! 
Which is the county town, or shire town, in each of the counties in 
your state ! Are there any mountains or rivers in your county ! What 
is a town or township ! What is the name of the town or township 
in which you live ! 


EASTERN STATES. 

The Eastern or New England States are those which lie 
wholly east of the Hudson River. They are Maine, New 
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rh ,de Island, and Con¬ 
necticut. 

New England is traversed by several ranges of mountains, 
being the eastern extremity of the Alleghany chain, of which the 
Green Mountains in Vermont, and the White Mountains in 
New Hampshire, are the most remarkable. 

The surface of the country in the eastern states is generally uneven 
or hilly, being well . supplied with rivers and small streams, and 
abounding with beautiful scenery. 

The climate of New England is generally healthy; though the 
winters are cold and long, the summers are w r arm, and changes from 
heat to cold are sudden and frequent. 

New England was originally settled by Puritan dissenters, who fled 
from England on account of religious persecution. 

Being unable to enjoy liberty of conscience in their native country, 

They, therefore, sail¬ 
ed for America, and 
landed at Plymouth, 
[Fig.48,] in Massachu¬ 
setts, on the 22d of De¬ 
cember, in the year 
1G20. The country was 
then a wilderness, and 
inhabited only by In¬ 
dians and wild beasts. 

After many suffer¬ 
ings from the climate, 
and from the hostility 
of the savages, they 
finally obtained possession of the country, and from them most of the 
inhabitants of New England are descended. 

The rock on which they first landed is called Forefathers’ Rock, and 

Which are the eastern or New England states ? What ranges of moun¬ 
tains ? What of the surface of the country ? What is the character of the 
climate ? By whom were the New England states first settled ? Why did 
they leave their native country ? Where did they first land p From what did 
they suffer ? What of Forefathers’ Rock ? What of the annual celebration ? 








EASTERN STATES. 


59 


has been removed from its former position, and placed in the centre of 
the town f Plymouth. 

The landing - of the pilgrims is annually celebrated at Plymouth, 
and a splendid hall has been erected by the New England Society for 
its use on such occasions. 

The New England states took the lead in asserting the inde¬ 
pendence of the United States. The cargo of tea thrown into 
the sea at Boston, and the battle of Lexington, formed the com¬ 
mencement of the contest. 

The soil of the eastern states, though not originally fertile, has been 
rendered productive by industry and careful cultivation. 

Grass, Indian corn, rye, and oats are generally cultivated, and 
horses, cattle, sheep, and other domestic animals, are reared in great 
numbers. The exports consist chiefly of beef, pork, butter, and cheese, 
all of which are of excellent quality. 

A large portion of the commerce of the United States, and nearly 
all the fishery, is carried on by New England shipping. Boston is the 
commercial capital of the eastern states. 

The whale fishery is carried on both in the Northern and Southern 
Oceans; the cod fishery on the banks of Newfoundland, and the 
mackerel and herring fishery on the coast of Maine. 

The manufactures of New England are very extensive, and embrace 
almost every description of articles, but the cotton and woollen manu¬ 
factures are the most important. 

The people of New England were earlv distinguished for their love 
of literature, and learning is generally diffused among the inhabitants. 
The system of common school instruction is scarcely equalled in any 
country. 

There are also several colleges and literary institutions of the first 
class, which are well endowed, and possess a high reputation. 


Map of the United States .—Which are the six New England states I 
Which of the New England states extends furthest north and east? 
Which extends furthest south ? Which extends furthest west ? Which 
of the eastern states has the greatest extent of sea coast ? Which has 
very little sea coast? Which has no sea coast? Which of the New 
England states is the largest ? Which the smallest ? 

o o 


MAINE. 

Maine was formerly attached to Massachusetts, under the 
name of the District of Maine, but since 1820 has formed an 
independent state. 

The climate, though subject to great extremes of heat and cold, is 

What respecting independence ? What is the character of the soil ? What 
are the productions and exports ? What of the commerce ? Fisheries ? 
Manufactures ? Literature ? Colleges ? 

What was Maine formerly ? What of the face of the country ? Agricul- 




60 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

pure and healthy. The winters are long, and attended with deep 
snow. 

There are considerable tracts of mountain and swamp in this state, 
and the interior has not been regularly settled. 

The dense, original forest is broken only along the sea coast, and 
agriculture is yet in a backward state. 

The inhabitants carry on a great deal of ship-building, and are 
extensively engaged in commerce and the fisheries. 

The fisheries of herring, cod, and salmon, on the coast, are 
very valuable, and give employment to a great number of people. 

The great extent of coast, indented with numerous bays and excel¬ 
lent harbours, is very favourable to commercial pursuits, in which a 
large number of the inhabitants are actively engaged. 

Tim soil of Maine is generally better adapted to pasturage than 
tillage, though wheat, barley, rye, and maize are extensively culti¬ 
vated. 

Manufactures have received less attention in this than in any other 
of the New England states. 

The timber trade of this state is a source of great wealth. 
The lumber procured from the forests is floated down the rivers, 
and shipped to different parts of the United States and West 
Indies, where it is sold at a good profit. 

Cargoes of ice are sometimes shipped to the southern states, West 
Indies, and other warm climates. 

The gigantic moose deer was formerly found in great numbers in 
this state, and some of them are still met with in the extensive forests 
of the interior. 

Portland, the largest city, and till 1831 the tapital of the state, has a good 
harbour on Casco Bay, with a large coasting trade and considerable foreign 
commerce. Population, 12,000. 

A u oust a, the capital of the state since 1831, is pleasantly situated on the 
west branch of Kennebec River, two miles above Hallowell. It contains a 
handsome state-house, and other public buildings. Population, 4000. 

Bangor is a city, and a place of considerable trade. The other principal 
towns are Bath, Hallowell, Brunswick, Eastport, Thomaston, and York, all of 
which are flourishing towns, with considerable trade. 

Map of the United States .—How is Maine bounded'? What is the 
capital of Maine 1 Which are the principal rivers ? Can you describe 
the Penobscot River 1 The Kennebec'? Androscoggin 1 Piscataqua'? 
What lakes 1 

Map of the Eastern States .—What bays on the coast of Maine “? What 
capes ? How many counties in Maine 1 What counties border on 
the ocean ? Which is the county or shire town of each of the coun¬ 
ties in Maine 1 What towns on the Penobscot River I On the Ivenne- 

ture ? Commerce ? Fisheries ? The coast ? Soil and productions p Manu¬ 
factures ? The timber trade ? Cargoes of ice ? Moose deer ? What of 
Portland ? Augusta ? Bangor ? What other towns p 


NEW HAMPSHIRE. 61 

bee River? Where is Machias ? Castine? Belfast? Wiscasset? 
Bath? Paris? York? What other towns ? 


NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

_ New Hampshire is broken into every variety of surface, and 
rises in the interior to 
the peaks of the White 
Mountains, [Tig. 49,] 
the highest of which is 
Mount Washington. 

Mount Washington 
is 6430 feet above the 
level of the sea, and 
being covered with 
snow during a great 
art of the year, can 
e seen from the sea 

at the distance of sixty ___. , 

or seventy miles. Whlte Mountains > Fl S- 49. 

The Notch in the White Mountains is a narrow defile, two miles in 
length, formed by some convulsion of nature, which has cleft the 
mountain to its very base. The gap is so narrow that space for a road 
has been found with difficulty. 

Its varied scenery of mountain, lake, and river, has caused this 
state to be called the Switzerland of America. 

The climate of New Hampshire is healthy, but the winters are se¬ 
vere ; deep snows are common, and furious winds prevail among the 
mountains. 

The chief wealth of New Hampshire arises from its agricul¬ 
tural productions, and from its forests, which furnish an abun¬ 
dant supply of excellent timber. 

New Hampshire has only eighteen miles of sea coast, and Ports¬ 
mouth is the only good harbour, on which, however, there is some 
ship-building, fishing, and trade. 

Portsmouth, near the mouth of the Piscataqua, is the largest town in the 
state, has a fine harbour, and contains a navy yard belonging to the United 
States. Population, 8000. 

Concord, on the river Merrimac, in the interior of the state, is the seat 
of government. Population, 3727. Dover, Exeter, Keene, and Hallowell 
are flourishing towns. 


Map of the U. S .—How is New Hampshire bounded ? What is the 
capital of New Hampshire ? Which are the principal rivers ? Can 

What of the surface of New Hampshire ? What of Mount Washington ? 
The Notch ? The scenery ? Climate ? Sources of wealth ? Extent of 
coast ? What of Portsmouth ? Concord ? What other towns ? 







62 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


you describe the Merrimac? Connecticut 1 ? Piscataqua ? What 
river separates New Hampshire from Vermont ? 

Map of the Eastern States .'—What harbour and important town in 
the southeastern part ? Where are the White Mountains ? Where 
is Lake Winnipisseogee ? How many counties has New Hampshire ? 
What county borders on the ocean ? What counties on Massachu¬ 
setts? On Connecticut River ? On Maine ? What is the county or 
shire town of each county ? What towns on the Connecticut River ? 
Where is Concord ? 


VERMONT. 

The Green Mountains, which give name to Vermont, tra¬ 
verse the central part in two parallel ridges, which rise in some 
places to the height of 4000 feet. 

Vermont is a mountainous, but very healthy and productive 
state. The Green Mountains enclose many fertile valleys, and 
a fine plain lies between them and Lake Champlain. 

Lake Champlain is a beautiful and very important sheet of water. 
On this lake, in 1814, the American fleet, under Macdonough, defeated 
and captured a British fleet of superior force. 

The manufactures of this state are not important, and the exports 
consist chiefly of timber and the product of the land, a great part of 
which is sent by way of the lake to Canada. 

The mineral productions are very important, and consist chiefly of 
iron, lead, and zinc. There are also extensive quarries of slate and 
marble. 

Moxtpelter, the capital, is a handsome and flourishing town. Pop. 1792. 

Burlington is the commercial capital, and noted for its beautiful situation. 
Population, 3400. 

Bennington, Middlebury, Windsor, and Brattleboro are flourishing towns. 


Map of the U. S. —How is Vermont bounded? What town is the 
capital ? Which are the principal rivers ? Wliat large lake in the 
northwest part ? What river flows out of Lake Champlain into the 
St. Lawrence? 

Map of the Eastern States. —Has Vermont any sea coast ? What lake 
lies between Vermont and New York? Can'you describe the Mis- 
sisque River ? La Moelle ? Otter Creek ? What important range of 
mountains in Vermont? In what direction do they extend? How 
many counties in Vermont? Which is the county or shire town of 
each of the counties ? What two counties in the north ? What coun¬ 
ties border on Massachusetts ? What counties border on the Connec¬ 
ticut River? What counties border on Lake Champlain? What 
towns on the Connecticut River? What towns on Otter Creek? 

What of Vermont ? The Green Mountains ? What else ? What of Lake 
Champlain ? What naval battle on it ? What of the manufactures ? Exports ? 
Minerals ? Wliat town is the capital ? What of Burlington ? What other 
towns ? 





MASSACHUSETTS. 


63 


MASSACHUSETTS. 

Of the eastern states, Massachusetts was first settled, and 
is that to which the character of New England most decidedly 
applies. 

The greater part of Massachusetts is hilly, and some branches 
of the Alleghany Mountains traverse the western part, which 
rise to the height of 4000 feet. 

Of the single mountain peaks, the most remarkable are Saddle 
Mountain, Tagkannuc, Wachuset, Holyoke, and Mount Tom. 

Massachusetts is a very fertile, well cultivated state, and, for its 
size, the most populous in the Union. 

In manufactures and the fisheries, Massachusetts exceeds every 
other state in the Union, and in commerce is surpassed only by New 
York. 

The people of Massachusetts are distinguished for integrity 
in their dealings, hospitality to strangers, and respect for the 
moral and social virtues. 

In this state peculiar attention is bestowed on public instruction. 
Harvard University, at Cambridge, near Boston, is the oldest and most 
celebrated literary institution in the United States. 

The islands belonging to Massachusetts are Nantucket and Mar¬ 
tha’s Vineyard. They nave a poor sandy soil, and the inhabitants are 
principally engaged in the fisheries. 

Boston, the capital of the state, and of New England, is built on a penin¬ 
sula at the bottom of Massachusetts Bay. The harbour is so spacious that it 
affords a good depth of water to upwards of 500 vessels, and the entrance 
being extremely narrow, renders it easily defensible. The city contains many 
elegant buildings, among which are the state-house and market. The popu¬ 
lation in 1830 was 61,392, in 1835 it was 78,600. 

Salem is a handsome town, which flourishes by the adventurous trade to the 
East Indies. Population, 14,000. 

Plymouth, the oldest town in New England, has some commerce and manu¬ 
factures, but the harbour is too sliallow to admit large vessels. Population, 
5000. 

Lowell is rising rapidly into importance from its extensive manufactures. 
Population, 12,000. 

Charlestown, connected with Boston by three bridges, is a place of consi¬ 
derable importance. Population, 9,000. 

Newburyport, Cambridge, Taunton, Gloucester, Lynn, and Worcester are 
all flourishing and important towns. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Massachusetts bounded ? What city is 
the capital? On what bay is Boston? W T hich are the principal 
rivers? Can you describe the Connecticut River? The Merrimac ? 
What three capes ? What two islands ? 

What of Massachusetts ? Face of the country ? Mountains ? What of its 
character ? What of its productive industry ? Character of the people ? 
Attention to public instruction ? Harvard University ? W hat islands ? What 
of Boston ? Salem t Plymouth ? Lowell ? Charlestown ? What other towns ? 


64 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Map of the Eastern States .—What part of Massachusetts is a penin¬ 
sula T Where is Massachusetts Bay? Cape Cod Bay? Buzzard 
Bay? What mountains in the western part? What ten counties 
has Massachusetts ? What is the county or shire town of each coun¬ 
ty ? What counties border on the sea coast ? What towns on the 
coast north of Boston? Where is Plymouth? New Bedford? 
Lowell? Andover? Charlestown? Amherst? Northfield? Green¬ 
field ? Pittsfield ? W'hat towns on the river Merrimac ? On the 
Connecticut? On the Housatonic ? 


RHODE ISLAND. 

Rhode Island is remarkable for its small extent, being the 
least state in the Union. It is called Rhode Island, from the 
island of that name which forms a part of it. 

This state was founded by the celebrated Roger Williams, who, 
being expelled from Massachusetts on account of his religious opi¬ 
nions, first settled at Providence, and founded a colony on the principle 
of entire liberty of conscience. 

There are no mountains in this state, but the face of the country is 
rough and hilly, except near the coast. 

Rhode Island is celebrated for its healthy climate, and the ex¬ 
tent of its manufactures and commerce. The soil is also fertile, 
and a great variety of agricultural productions are found in 
abundance. 

Narraganset Bay is about thirty miles long, receives Providence and 
Taunton rivers, and surrounds Rhode Island, Canonicut, and Pru¬ 
dence. Block Island in the Atlantic, about twelve miles from the 
coast, also belongs to this state. 

Providence, the capital city, is built on both sides of Providence River, at 
the head of Narraganset Bay. The city contains many handsome buildings, 
and the arcade is one of the most elegant edifices in New England. Pop. 20,000. 

Newport, on Rhode Island, has one of the finest harbours in the world, lying 
close to the sea, and always accessible. Population, 8000. 

Bristol, on Narraganset Bay, fifteen miles south of Providence, is a hand¬ 
some town, and has considerable commerce. Population, 3000. 

Pawtucket is a thriving manufacturing village, partly in Massachusetts. 
Warren is a place of some trade. Warwick, Smithfield, and Scituate are 
thriving towns. 


Map of the TJ. S. —How is the state of Rhode Island bounded? 
What is its capital ? What large bay in this state ? Where is Rhode 
Island ? Block Island ? 

For what is Rhode Island remarkable ? From what is it named ? Who 
founded this state ? What of the face of the country ? What of the climate ? 
Manufactures ? Commerce ? Agriculture ? What bay ? Islands ? Can you 
describe Providence ? Newport ? Bristol } Pawtucket ? What other towns } 



CONNECTICUT. 


65 


Map of the Eastern States .—How many counties in Rhode Island I 
[The islands in Narraganset Bay and Block Island are included in 
Newport country.] Which are the county or shire towns of each 
county? Where is Providence? Newport? Bristol? Greenwich? 
S. Kingston? 


CONNECTICUT. 

Connecticut is a hilly, but not a mountainous state, with a 
healthy climate and fertile soil. 

Agriculture is in a highly flourishing condition, and manufactures 
and commerce are extensively prosecuted. 

The inhabitants of Connecticut are a very hospitable people, with 
strict morals and great industry and ingenuity. 

Public education is amply provided for. The fund for the 
support of common schools is over two millions of dollars, and 
there is scarcely an individual who cannot read and write. 

Yale College, at New Haven, is one of the most celebrated literary 
institutions in the United States. 

New Haven (jointly with Hartford the capital of the state) stands on a 
beautiful bay which leads into Long Island Sound. It occupies a low but 
beautiful situation, surrounded by hills, and is regularly and handsomely 
built. Population, 10,678. 

Hartford, on die western side of the Connecticut River, fifty miles from 
its mouth, is the centre of a considerable trade, and remarkable for its hand¬ 
some public edifices and charitable institutions, among which are the Deaf and 
Dumb Asylum, and the Retreat for the Insane. Population, 8800. 

Middletown, also on the Connecticut River, fifteen miles below Hartford, is 
beautifully situated, and has considerable trade and manufactures. Pop. 2965. 

New London stands on a fine harbour at the mouth of the river Thames, 
and is extensively engaged in the whale fishery. Population, 4356. 

Norwich, on the Thames, fifteen miles from New London, is the seat of ex¬ 
tensive manufacturing establishments. Population, 3135. 

At Litchfield there is a celebrated law school. Fairfield, Danbury, Green¬ 
wich, and Saybrook are thriving towns. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Connecticut bounded ? Which are its 
two capitals? What sound south of Connecticut? Where does Con¬ 
necticut River empty ? 

Map of the Eastern States. —Can you describe the Connecticut River ? 
The Thames ? The Housatonic ? How many counties in Connecti¬ 
cut? Which are the county towns of each? What towns on the 
Connecticut River ? On the river Thames ? On the Housatonic ? 
Where is New Haven? Bridgeport? Farmington? Wallingford? 
Pomfret? Enfield? Norwalk? What counties lie on the southern 

What are the general features of Connecticut ? What of its agriculture ? 
What is the character of the inhabitants ? What of public education ? What 
of Yale College ? Can you describe New Haven ? Hartford ? Middletown ? 
New London ? Norwich ? Litchfield ? What other towns ? 




66 ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

coast? YVhat counties border on Rhode Island ? On Massachusetts ? 
On New York ? 


MIDDLE STATES. 

The Middle States consist of the great states of New York 
and Pennsylvania, with the smaller ones of New Jersey and 
Delaware. 

The middle states contain the greatest extent of cultivated 
land, and the largest and most populous cities in the Union, and 
the people are not inferior to any other section in enterprise and 
intellectual energy. 

The climate of the middle states is mild, except in the north part, 
where the winters are severe. The air is generally pure and healthy. 

Agriculture is the leading occupation in the middle states, and is 
conducted with great skill and industry. The most important grain 
is wheat, of which immense quantities are exported to foreign countries. 
Rye, oats, maize, and other kinds of grain, with a great variety of fine 
fruits, are also produced in abundance. 

The foreign commerce is chiefly carried on through the ports of 
New York and Philadelphia, and the numerous canals and railroads 
afford great facilities for internal trade. 

The manufactures of the middle states are various and very exten¬ 
sive, and are rapidly increasing. 

New York and Pennsylvania have each a fund for the support of 
common schools, exceeding two millions of dollars, and Delaware has 
established a system of common school instruction. 

Map of the U. S'.—Which are the four middle states ? Which of 
the middle states extends furthest north and east ? Which furthest 
south ? Which furthest west ? Which of the middle states has the 
greatest extent of sea coast ? Which of the middle states has no sea 
coast? Which of the middle states is the largest? Which the 
least ? 


NEW YORK. 

New York is mountainous in the eastern part, where the Al¬ 
leghany Mountains traverse it. There are also some mountains 
in the north part, but, with few exceptions, every other part of 
the state is level. 

The Highlands and Katskill are the two principal ranges of 
the Alleghany in this state. The Katskill is the most elevated, 
and rises to the height of 3800 feet. 

Which are the middle states ? How distinguished ? What of the climate ? 
Agriculture and productions ? Commerce ? Manufactures ? Education ? 

What is the general character of New York ? What mountains ? What 




NEW YORK. 


67 


On the Katskill, at the height of 2274 feet, a splendid hotel, called 
the Katskill Mountain House, has been erected. Near it a stream of 
water, forming the outlet of several small lakes, produces a beautiful 
waterfall, nearly three hundred feet in height. 

The climate of New York is greatly diversified. In the northern 
part the winters are long and very severe, but in the south compara¬ 
tively mild. 

New York touches the sea at one point only, prolonged, however, 
by Long Island, and the fine and secure bay which it forms. 

Long Island is 120 miles long, is very fertile, and contains several 
flourishing towns. The other important islands are Manhattan or 
York, which contains New York City, Staten Island, and Grand 
Island in Niagara River. 

Of the great lakes, Erie, Ontario, and Champlain, belong in 
part to New York. Numerous small lakes of great beauty lie 
wholly in this state. Lake George is celebrated for its scenery 
and the transparency of its waters. 

The Hudson River is wholly in New York, and is one of the 
finest and most interesting navigable streams in the world. 

Niagara falls, on the river of the same name, which flows 
from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the most sublime and tre¬ 
mendous cataract in the world. The Niagara Ri\er is about 
three quarters of a mile broad, and the height of the fall is 160 
feet perpendicular, divided into two parts by Goat Island, 
which is about a mile in circumference. 

The mineral springs at Saratoga, Ballston, and New Leba¬ 
non, are celebrated for their medicinal properties. From the 
salt springs at Salina three millions of bushels of salt are ma¬ 
nufactured annually. 

The soil of a great part of this state is excellent, and agriculture is 
carried on with great skill and success. Wheat is the leading article 
of cultivation, but maize, rye, oats, and other kinds of grain, with fine 
fruits, are produced in abundance. 

The commerce of this state is peculiarly extensive, both by its great 
port of New York up the Hudson River, and by the canals which con¬ 
nect it with Lake Erie and Lake Champlain. 

The manufactures of New York are also in a flourishing state, and 
include every variety of articles. 

The first settlements in New York were made by the Dutch about 
the year 1613, at Manhattan, where New York now is, and at Albany 
on the Hudson. 

is worthy of notice on the Katskill Mountains ? What of the climate ? What 
of the sea coast ? Can you describe Long Island ? What of die lakes ? What 
of the Hudson River ? Niagara falls ? The mineral springs ? What of the 
soil and productions ? The commerce ? Manufactures ? What of the first 
settlement of New York ? What of New York City ? What of die principal 


68 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


New York City [Fig. 55] is on Manhattan or York Island, at the mouth of 

the Hudson River. It is the 
largest city in the United 
States, and, next to London, 
is the greatest commercial 
emporium in the world. 
The population, which in 
1830 was 203,000, in 1835 
had increased to 270,000, 
and now probably exceeds 
300,000. 

The principal street, call¬ 
ed Broadway, eighty feet 
wide, is continued upwards 
of three miles through the 
centre and highest part of 
the city, and contains many handsome dwellings and stores. 

New York has many handsome public buildings. The City Hall is 216 feet 
long, and 105 feet broad, built of white marble. The new Custom-house is 
one of the most beautiful and substantial buildings of the kind in the world. 

On the 16th of December, 1835, one of the most destructive fires on record 
took place in the city of New York, by which about 600 buildings, and pro¬ 
perty to the value of nearly twenty millions of dollars were destroyed. 

Albany, the capital of New York, is on the Hudson River, at die head of 
sloop navigation, and 160 miles above New York. It contains many hand¬ 
some public and private buildings, among which the state-house is most con¬ 
spicuous. Population, 30,000. 

Albany is the centre of a very lucrative and extensive internal trade, being 
connected with New York by the Hudson River, and by canals with Lake Erie 
and Lake Champlain. 

The other cities are Hudson and Troy, on the Hudson River; Schenectady and 
Utica on the Mohawk; Rochester on the Genessee, and Buffalo on Lake Erie. 

Fishkill, Poughkeepsie, Newburg, and Katskill, on the Hudson; Plattsburg 
on Lake Champlain; Johnstown, Ithaca, Rome, Salina, Seneca, and many 
others, are flourishing and important towns. 


Map of the U. S .—How is New York bounded 1 ? What city is the 
capital! What large island belongs to New York! [See Map of 
Eastern States.] Which are the principal rivers ! What two large 
lakes border on New York? What lake between New York and 
Vermont! What large river flows out of Lake Ontario ! 


Map of the Middle States .—Where is Lake George! Oneida Lake ! 
Skeneatles Lake! Cayuga Lake! Seneca Lake! Chatauque Lake! 
Can you describe the Hudson River! The Mohawk River! The 
Susquehanna! Oswego! Genessee! Niagara! In what river is 
Grand Island! What rivers empty into the St. Lawrence! Can you 
describe the Erie Canal! The Champlain Canal! Hudson and 
Delaware Canal! 

How many counties has New York! W r hich is the county town 
of each! What counties east of the Hudson River! W r hat counties 
bordering on the west side of the Hudson River! What counties 

street ? The public buildings ? The great fire ? What of Albany ? The 
trade of Albany } What other cities l Towns l 













NEW JERSEY. 


69 


bordering on Lake Champlain ? On the river St. Lawrence ? On 
Lake Ontario? On Lake Erie'? On Pennsylvania? What counties 
in the interior ? 

What large city at the mouth of the Hudson River ? W T hat city 
and towns on Long Island 1 What cities and towns on the east side 
of the Hudson River ? On the west side ? What places on Lake 
Champlain ? On the river St. Lawrence ? On Lake Ontario 1 What 
towns on other lakes ? What towns on the Erie Canal ? What towns 
on the Genessee River 1 ? Oswego River? Susquehanna River? 


NEW JERSEY. 



New Jersey is mountainous in the north part, but the greater 
portion of the state is level, and in the south flat and sandy. 

The hilly parts produce good pasturage, and a considerable 
portion of the state produces the different kinds of grain and 
fine fruits in great abundance. 

New Jersey has no good seaport, and its commerce is, therefore, 
carried on chiefly through New York and Philadelphia. The shad 
and oyster fisheries are of considerable importance. 

The manufactures of this state are very important and various. 
Iron ore is found in great quantities, and is extensively manufactured. 

The falls on the river 
Passaic [Fig. 51] are 
seventy feet perpendicu¬ 
lar, and present one of 
the most interesting ob¬ 
jects of the kind in the 
United States. 

Thepeople of New Jer¬ 
sey distinguished them¬ 
selves for their ardour in 
the cause of independ¬ 
ence, and rendered im¬ 
portant services in the 

Princeto°n Trent ° n and Passaic Falls > Fig ' 51 ' 

Tresttox, on the Delaware, at the head of tide water, is the capital, and 
has considerable trade and manufactures. Population, 4000. 

Newark is handsomely built, has flourishing manufactures, and the neigh¬ 
bourhood produces excellent cider. Population, 16,000. 

Princeton is the seat of New Jersey College, one of the oldest and most 
eminent literary institutions in the country. 

Paterson, on the Passaic, just below the falls, is a flourishing manufacturing 


town. Population, 12,000. 

Brunswick, Elizabethtown, Bordentown, and Burlington are the other prin¬ 
cipal towns. 


Map of the U. S .—How is New Jersey bounded ? Which is the 
capital ? What cape at its southern extremity ? What bay between 
New Jersey and Delaware ? What river on its western boundary ? 

What are the general features of New Jersey ? What of its productions ? 




70 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Map of the Middle States .—Can you describe the Delaware River 1 
Delaware Bay ? Where is Sandy Hook ? Great Egg Harbour ? 
Little Egg Harbour ? Cape May? How many counties in New 
Jersey? Which is the county town of each? Where is Trenton? 
Newark? Brunswick? Amboy? Bordentown ? Camden? What 
counties border on the Atlantic ? On Delaware Bay ? On Delaware 
River ? On New York ? 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

Pennsylvania is mountainous in the middle part, where the 
Alleghany range passes obliquely through it, but in other places it 
is level or undulating. The climate is mild, and the soil fertile. 

This state was founded by a colony of Quakers, under the enlight¬ 
ened and benevolent Penn, who bought the land from the natives by 
a fair purchase. The treaty he made with the Indians, under the great 
elm tree at Philadelphia, was observed on both sides for seventy years. 

Agriculture is very flourishing, and the productions various and 
abundant. Wheat is the great staple, besides which rye, oats, corn, 
and other kinds of grain, with fine fruits, are everywhere met with. 

Pennsylvania is distinguished for the immense extent and 
value of its mineral productions, of which the principal are coal 
and iron. The coal formations of Pennsylvania exceed that of 
any other country in the World. Iron ore is abundant, and ex¬ 
tensively manufactured. There are also extensive quarries of 
beautiful marble. 

Pennsylvania is the first manufacturing state in the Union, 
and ranks amongst the first for its commerce. 

The internal improvements of Pennsylvania have been prosecuted 
with great spirit and energy, and the number of miles of railroads 
and canals within its limits exceeds any other of the United States. 

The school fund of Pennsylvania exceeds two millions of dollars, 
which is set apart for the support of common schools. There are also 
ten colleges and fifty academies, which have been chartered and entirely 
or in part endowed by the state. 

Pennsylvania has been settled principally by emigrants from Great 
Britain, Ireland, and Germany. About one-third of the population is 
of German origin, who still retain, to a great extent, their own lan¬ 
guage, manners, and customs. 

Philadelphia is built on the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, where they 
nearly approach each other, seven miles above their junction. The population 
of Philedelphia in 1830 was 188,796, and now probably amounts to upwards 
of 225,000. 

Seaports and trade ? Manufactures ? Passaic falls ? What of the people ? 
Can you describe Trenton l Newark? Princeton? Paterson? What other 
towns ? 

What are the general features of Pennsylvania ? By whom was Pennsyl¬ 
vania founded ? What of its agriculture and productions ? What of the 
mineral wealth of Pennsylvania ? What of the manufactures ? Internal im¬ 
provements ? What of the schools and colleges ? By whom has Pennsylva¬ 
nia been settled ? On what rivers is Philadelphia ? Can you describe Phila- 



PENNSYLVANIA. 


71 


This city was originally laid out on a regular plan, the streets being straight, 
and crossing each other at right angles, and they are well paved, and kept 
very clean. The houses are handsomely built of brick, ornamented with 
white marble, so that this is probably the most beautiful city in the world. 

The commerce of Philadelphia is only exceeded by the city of New York, 
and in manufactures it is the first city in the United States. 

The University of Pennsylvania is distinguished by the high reputation of 
its medical school. The Jefferson Medical College is also a flourishing in¬ 
stitution, and private and public schools are numerous and well supported. 

Philadelphia abounds with religious and benevolent institutions, amongst 
which the Pennsylvania Hospital, the Almshouse, the Deaf and Dumb Asy¬ 
lum, the Institution for the Blind, the Widows’ Asylum, and Orphans’ Asy¬ 
lum, are the most prominent. 

The state prison near Philadelphia is the largest in the United States. It 
is built of granite, and covers a space of ten acres, with a front of 670 feet. 

The Philadelphia Museum contains a skeleton of the mastodon or mam¬ 
moth, besides a greater number of curiosities than any other institution of 
the kind in America. 

The United States Bank, the Mint, and the Merchants’ Exchange, all built of 
white marble, are elegant edifices, and well adapted for their respective uses. 

The late Stephen Gi¬ 
rard, who died in 1832, 
left a legacy of several 
millions of dollars to the 
city of Philadelphia for 
the purpose of making 
public improvements, be¬ 
sides two millions of dol¬ 
lars set'apart for building 
and endowing a college, 
to be called the Girard 
College for Orphans. The 
building, [Fig. 52,] which 
has been erected for that 
purpose, is one of the 
most expensive and per¬ 
manent of modern times. 

The Fairmount Water¬ 
works [Fig. 53] constitute 
an immense establishment 
on the Schuylkill for the J|| 
purpose of supplying Phi¬ 
ladelphia with water. By 
a dam across the Schuyl¬ 
kill a water-power is cre¬ 
ated, by which the water 
of the river is raised into 
reservoirs on a hill, from 
which it is distributed 
through pipes to every 
part of the city and su¬ 
burbs. No city in the 
world has such an abun¬ 
dant supply of pure water. 

delphia ? What of its commerce ? What university ? For what distinguished ? 
What other college ? What of the religious and benevolent institutions ! What 



Girard College, Fig. 52. 



Water-wox-ks, Fig. 53. 















72 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Pittsburgh stands on a point of land where the junction of the Alleghany 
and Monongahela forms the Ohio River. It is finely situated for trade by 
the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, but is most distinguished for its manufac¬ 
tures, which embrace almost every variety of articles. The surrounding 
country is exceedingly rich in bituminous coal, which affords a cheap and 
abundant supply of fuel for manufacturing and other purposes. The popula¬ 
tion of Pittsburg in 1830 was 18,000, and now probably amounts to 35,000. 

Lancaster, in the county of the same name, is near the Susquehanna, with 
which it is connected by a canal, is surrounded by a country famed for its fer¬ 
tility, and is a flourishing city. Population, 7704. 

Harrisburg, handsomely situated on the Susquehanna River, is the capital, 
and contains a very elegant state-house, and other public buildings. Pop. 4000. 


Map of the U. S. —How is Pennsylvania bounded? What is the 
capital ? What large lake on the northwest ? Which are the principal 
rivers ? 

Map of the Middle States. —Can you describe the Delaware River ? 
Lehigh? Schuylkill? Susquehanna? North Branch? West Branch? 
Juniata River? Alleghany? Monongahela? Ohio? Can you de¬ 
scribe the railroad from Philadelphia to Columbia? Canal from Co¬ 
lumbia to Hollidaysburg ? Railroad from Hollidaysburg to Johns¬ 
town? Canal from Johnstown to Pittsburg? West Branch Canal ? 
North Branch Canal ? Canal from Bristol to Easton ? From Easton 
to Stoddartsville ? Canal from Philadelphia to Pottsville? The 
Union Canal ? Ohio and Chesapeake Canal ? 

How many counties in Pennsylvania ? What js the county town 
of each ? What counties border on the Delaware River ? What 
counties on Delaware state ? What counties on Maryland ? On Vir¬ 
ginia? On Ohio? What are on Lake Erie? What counties on 
New York? What counties on the Schuylkill River? On the Sus¬ 
quehanna? North Branch? West Branch? Juniata? Alleghany? 
Monongahela? Ohio? 

What city and towns on the Delaware River ? On the Schuyl¬ 
kill? What towns on the Susquehanna? North Branch? West 
Branch? Lehigh? Juniata? Alleghany? On the railroads and 
canals between Philadelphia and Pittsburg ? 


DELAWARE. 

Delaware is a small state, with a level surface and fertile 
soil, except in the south, which is sandy and marshy. 

From the Cypress swamp, in the southern extremity of the state, 
great quantities of timber are obtained for exportation, and abundance 
of bog iron ore is found in the same quarter. 

Wheat is the staple production, and of very fine quality; other kinds 
of grain also flourish. 

The manufactures of Delaware are very extensive, and chiefly car- 

of the state prison ? The Museum ? The Girard College ? The Water¬ 
works ? Can you describe Pittsburg ? Lancaster ? Harrisburg ? 
k Can you describe the state of Delaware ? What of the Cypress swamp ? 




SOUTHERN STATES. 


73 


ried on near Wilmington. They consist of cotton, woollen, paper, 
flour, and gunpowder. 

The commerce of Delaware, which is not extensive, is chiefly 
through the port of Wilmington. 

The breakwater, at the entrance of Delaware Bay, is an artificial 
harbour of great extent and importance, built by the United States. 

Wilmington is the most important town in Delaware. It has extensive 
manufactures and some commerce. 

Dover, the capital, is near the middle of the state, on Jones’ Creek, a 
small stream which empties into Delaware Bay. 


Map of the U. S .—How is Delaware bounded 1 What bay and river 
connected with it ? What important cape 1 What is the capital 1 

Map of the Middle States .—How many counties has Delaware 1 What 
county in the north 1 In the middle 1 In the south 1 What is the 
county towmjof each 1 Where is Wilmington 1 Dover 1 Lewestown 1 


SOUTHERN STATES. 

The Southern States are Maryland, Virginia, North Ca¬ 
rolina,, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and 
Louisiana. The District of Columbia and Territory of Florida 
are also included in this section of the United States. 

Along the sea coast, varying in breadth from 50 to 100 miles inland, 
there is a level tract of country but little elevated above the ocean, 
called the low country; the hilly and elevated region then commences, 
and rises gradually to the range of the Alleghany Mountains. 

The soil of the low country is sandy, wdth marshes interspersed, 
and unproductive, except along the rivers, where it is very fertile. 
The upland region is more generally fertile and productive. 

The climate of Marjdand and Virginia is mild in winter, with some 
snow. Further south, snow and frost seldom appear. In the low 
country the summers are hot, and the inhabitants are subject to fevers; 
but in the upland and mountainous region, the air is pure and salu¬ 
brious. 

Gold is the most important mineral of the southern states. The 
gold region is very extensive, and, with improved management in the 
working of mines, will probably yield a greater quantity of that pre¬ 
cious metal than any other part of the world. 

The low country consists of extensive plantations cultivated by 
slaves, and the owners are called planters. The people of the upland 
regions are farmers, have fewer slaves, and often cultivate the soil 
with their own hands. 

The staple productions in the north are wheat, corn, and tobacco; 

Productions ? Manufactures ? Commerce ? What important work at the 
entrance of Delaware Bay ? Can you describe Wilmington ? Dover ? 

Which are the southern states ? Can you describe the face of the country ? 
What of the soil ? The climate ? Mineral productions ? What difference in 

4 





74 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


in the southern part, cotton, rice, and sugar are principally cultivated. 
The people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

The commerce of the southern states is not extensive; they own 
comparatively but a small amount of shipping, and the greater part of 
the exports are taken by northern vessels, Baltimore, Charleston, 
and New Orleans are the most important commercial cities. 

The manufactures of the southern states 
are of very small amount. Some attempts 
have been made to establish cotton factories, 
but they have not yet been attended with 
much success. 

The inhabitants of the southern states are 
a high-minded, intelligent, and hospitable 
people. They are chiefly of English descent, 
except in Florida and Louisiana. 

The turkey vulture [Fig. 54] is found 
over the whole of the L nited States, but is 
Turkey Vulture, Fig. 54. more numerous in the southern region Like 
the other species of the vulture tribe, it de¬ 
lights to feed on carrion, and never attacks 
an animal while alive. 

In the southern section of the United 
States, and especially in the rivers and la¬ 
goons connected with the Gulf of Mexico, al¬ 
ligators are found in great numbers. Though 
the alligator [Fig. 55] does not appear to 
possess so muclYvoracity and fierceness as 
the crocodile of the eastern continent, it ne- 

vertheless is a very formidable animal. 

Alligator, I* lg. 5o. _ J 

Map of the U. S .—Which four of the southern states are bounded 
by the Atlantic Ocean ? Which two are connected with Chesapeake 
Bay 1 Which three of the southern states lie on the Gulf of Mexico'? 
Which of the southern states extend furthest north ? Which extends 
furthest east ? Which furthest south? Which furthest west? How 
far south does Florida extend ? Which of the southern states is the 
largest ? Which the smallest ? W hich has the greatest extent of sea 
coast? Through which of the southern states does the Alleghany 
Mountains extend ? 




MARYLAND. 

Maryland consists of two parts, separated by Chesapeake 
Bay, called the eastern and western shores. 

The sea coast, and a range of mountains in the western part, 
temper in most places the heat of summer. The state is healthy, 
except in low, marshy situations. 

the cultivation of the low and upland regions ? Which are the staple produc¬ 
tions ? What of the commerce ? Manufactures ? Character of the inhabit¬ 
ants ? What of the turkey vulture ? Alligator ? 




DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 


75 


Though maTsh and sand prevail in some parts, the soil is, on the 
whole, exceedingly fertile. Wheat and tobacco, both of excellent 
quality, are the staple productions. 

Iron and coal are the most important mineral productions. 

The commerce consists chiefly of the exportation of wheat, flour, 
tobacco, and some iron. 

The people of Maryland are distinguished for their agreeable man¬ 
ners, kindness, and hospitality. 

Baltimore is amongst the first cities of America, and is a place of great 
commerce and wealth. The public and private buildings are inferior to none 
others in the country in size and beauty. Population, 80,625. 

Baltimore is the greatest flour market in the United States, and there are a 
great number of flour mills in the immediate vicinity. There are also in the 
neighbourhood extensive cotton manufactories, and others of cloth, powder, 
paper, iron, and glass. 

Baltimore contains the Battle Monument, built of marble, 55 feet high, to 
commemorate the defeat of the British in their attack on the city in 1814, and 
the Washington Monument, also of marble, 163 feet high, sustaining on its 
summit a colossal statue of Washington. 

Axxapolis, the capital, contains a handsome state-house, near the centre of 
the town, and is also the seat of the University of Maryland. It is situated on 
the west side of the Chesapeake Bay, at the mouth of the Severn, thirty-five 
miles south of Baltimore. Population, 2623. 

Map of the U. S .—How is Maryland bounded ! What city is the 
capital ! What bay divides it into two parts ! Which are the prin¬ 
cipal rivers 1 

Map of the Middle States .—Can you describe the Potomac River ! 
The Susquehanna! Ohio and Chesapeake Canal! What railroads! 
What counties on the eastern shore of Maryland ! On the western 
shore ! W hich are the county towns of each f What counties border 
on Delaware! On Pennsylvania! On Virginia! What island in 
Chesapeake Bay! Where is Baltimore! Annapolis! Frederick! 
Hagerstown! Elkton! Chester! Centreville! Easton! 

o 


DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

The District of Columbia was formerly included in the 
states of Maryland and Virginia, and was ceded to the United 
States for the purpose of being made the seat of the general 
government. 

The District of Columbia is ten miles square, with the river 
Potomac running through it, and has been the seat of the United 
States’ government since the year 1800 . 

Of what does Maryland consist ? What of the climate ? Soil and produc¬ 
tions P Minerals? Commerce? Character of the people ? What of Balti¬ 
more ? Its market ? What monuments ? What of Annapolis ? 

In what states was the District of Columbia included ? How large is it ? 
What river l How long the seat of government of the United States } What 



76 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Washington City, the capital of the United States, is on the north 
side of the Potomac River, 120 miles from its mouth, and by the course 
of the river and bay 300 miles from the ocean. The plan is very ex¬ 
tensive, and, when fully built, this city will be one of the most beauti¬ 
ful in the world. Population, 18,827. 

The capitol at Wash¬ 
ington [Fig. 56] is built 
of white freestone, with a 
front of 362 feet. One 
wing contains the senate 
chamber, the other the 
hall of the house of re¬ 
presentatives. Between 
the two wings is a spa¬ 
cious rotunda, 96 feet in 
diameter, adorned with 
several pieces of painting 
and sculpture, represent¬ 
ing events in American 
history. 



Capitol at Washington, Fig. 56. 


The President’s House, also built of white freestone, on an eminence a mile 
and a half west of the capitol, presents a very handsome appearance. The 
buildings for the state, war, navy, and treasury departments, are near the 
President’s House. 

Georgetown, separated from Washington by Rock Creek, is a flourishing 
place, at which the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal commences. Pop. 3441. 

Alexandria, on the south side of the Potomac, below Washington, has some 
commerce, and is noted for its flour mills. Population, 8263. 


Mop of the Middle States .—Does the river Potomac divide the Dis¬ 
trict of Columbia into two equal parts'? In what part is Washington 
City 1 ? Georgetown! Alexandria! 


VIRGINIA. 

Virginia is the largest, and one of the most wealthy, import¬ 
ant, and influential states. Four Presidents of the United 
States, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, were 
native citizens of Virginia. 

In surface, soil, and climate, Virginia is greatly diversified. East 
of the Blue Ridge the country is low and level, with hot, unhealthy 
summers, and, except along the rivers, the soil not fertile. 

The Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains intersect the middle part 
of the state, which has very fertile valleys, and a delightful, healthy 
climate. West of the mountains the country is hilly, with a pure air 
and less fertile soil. Otter Peak, the most elevated point of the Blue 
Ridge, rises to the height of 4200 feet. 

of Washington City ? The capitol ? President’s House ? Georgetown ? Alex¬ 
andria ? 

What of Virginia ? Can you describe its natural features ? What moun¬ 
tains l Productions? Minerals ? Salt springs ? Mineral springs ? For what 


















VIRGINIA. 


77 






Virginia produces great quantities of wheat, Indian corn, and to¬ 
bacco, besides rye, oats, hemp, and flax, which are extensively culti¬ 
vated. 

The minerals of Virginia are numerous and valuable. Extensive 
gold mines have been discovered, and abundance of excellent coal is 
found on James’ River. Iron of an excellent quality is found, and 
extensively manufactured. The other important minerals are lead, 
chalk, and gypsum. 

From the salt sprin gs in the western part of Virginia great quanti¬ 
ties of salt are procured. The principal works on the Kanawha River 
produce two millions of bushels annually. 

The mineral springs of Virginia are celebrated for their medicinal 
properties, and are much resorted to during the summer season. 

Virginia is distinguished for the number of her rivers, which have 
been rendered navigable to a great extent; and by railroads and canals 
transportation is easy and rapid through a large portion of the state. 

The passage of the 
Potomac River through 
the Blue Ridge at 
Harper’s F erry presents 
the appearance of an im¬ 
mense rent, three-quar¬ 
ters of a mile in length, 
through a stupendous 
wall of rocks. The Po¬ 
tomac Falls [Fig. 57] 
also present a very 
sublime and beautiful 
appearance. 

The natural bridge Potomac Falls, Fig. 57. 

over Cedar Creek has 

been formed by the bursting of that stream through a wall of rock, 
and leaving a natural arch, which forms the bridge, 250 feet high, 90 
feet long, and 60 feet wide. 

There are several remarkable caves in Virginia. From one of them, 
called the Blowing Cave, a current of air 
constantly issues with considerable force. 

Weir’s Cave, on the west side of the Blue 
Ridge, contains several apartments filled with 
stalactites and incrustations, and extends two 
or three thousand feet into the mountain. 

The Virginia nightingale, [Fig. 58,] though 
it does not equal the European bird of tne 
same name in the melody of its song, greatly 
surpasses it in the beauty of its plumage, for 


which it is much admired. 


Va. Nightingale, Fig. 58. 


is Virginia distinguished ? What of the Potomac River and Falls ? What of 
the Natural Bridge ? What remarkable caves ? What of the Virginia nightin¬ 
gale ? What of Richmond ? The state capitol ? What of Norfolk ? What 





78 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Richmond, the capital, 
is on James’ River, at the 
head of tide water. The 
city rises gradually from 
the river, and has a very 
handsome appearance. It 
is surrounded by a fertile 
country, and has a flou¬ 
rishing trade. Pop. 16,000. 

The state capitol at 
Richmond [Fig. 59] is a 
splendid building on the 
highest summit of a con¬ 
siderable hill, from which an extensive prospect is presented. 

Norfolk, the chief commercial town, is on a good harbour at the mouth of 
James’River, which, just above its mouth, forms the fine bay called Hampton 
Roads. Population, 9816. 

Petersburg, Fredericksburg, and Lynchburg are flourishing towns, and 
each of them has a considerable trade. 

At York Town, near the mouth of York River, the British army, under 
Lord Cornwallis, was captured by the Americans on the 19th of October, 
1781, which put an end to the revolutionary war. 

Mount Vernon, on the Potomac, nine miles below Alexandria, was the seat 
of President Washington. 

Wheeling, the largest town in Western Virginia, is on the Ohio river, and 
has a very extensive trade, with some manufactures. Population, 5222. 

The first permanent English settlement in America was made at James¬ 
town, in Virginia, in the year 1607, under the direction of the celebrated 
Captain Smith. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Virginia bounded ? What is the capital ? 
Which are the principal rivers 1 What large bays ? What two capes 
at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay 1 What chain of mountains ? 

Map of the Middle States. —In what direction do the Alleghany Moun¬ 
tains extend ? The Blue Ridge ? In what direction does Chesapeake 
Bay extend ? Can you describe the Potomac River? The Rappahan¬ 
nock 1 York River ? James’ River ? Appomattox ? Shenandoah ? 
Ohio? Great Kanawha? Little Kanawha? Chowan? Roanoke? 

How many counties in Virginia ? What is the county town of each ? 
What counties east of Chesapeake Bay ? What counties border on 
the west side of Chesapeake Bay ? What counties border on the Po¬ 
tomac River ? On Pennsylvania ? On the Ohio River ? On Kentucky 
or North Carolina? What counties in the interior? What city and 
town on James’ River ? What towns on York River ? On the Rappa¬ 
hannock? On the Ohio River? W T here is Norfolk? Portsmouth? 
Petersburg ? Charlottesville ? Wheeling ? 

other towns ? For what is York Town remarkable ? Mount Vernon ? Wheel¬ 
ing ? What of the first settlement ? 



Capitol at Richmond, Fig. 59. 



















NORTH CAROLINA. 


79 


NORTH CAROLINA. 

North Carolina is low, level, and sandy along the coast; 
in the middle, hilly; and in the western part is intersected by 
the Alleghany Mountains. 

The low islands and extensive sounds along the coast form the 
most remarkable natural features of this state. The entrances to the 
sounds and the mouths of rivers are obstructed by sandbars, and there 
are no good harbours, for which reason a large portion of the com¬ 
merce passes through Virginia and South Carolina. 

A great portion of the low country in the eastern part is covered 
with pine forests, from which great quantities of lumber, pitch, and 
tar are obtained. 

The Great Dismal Swamp, partly in North Carolina and partly in 
Virginia, is thirty miles long and ten broad. Lake Drummond, in the 
middle of this swamp, is fifteen miles long. 

The soil of North Carolina is very various, but a large portion of 
the state is fertile. Wheat, rice, corn, cotton, and tobacco are the 
staple productions. 

The minerals of North Carolina are very valuable. The gold mines 
have been extensively worked, and are very productive. 

Raleigh, the capital, is named after the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh. It is 
pleasantly situated on the Neuse River, near the centre of the state. Pop. 1700. 

Nkwbehne is the largest town. It is also on the Neuse River, thirty miles 
above its entrance into Pamlico Sound, and has a flourishing trade. Pop. 3702. 

Wilmington is a seaport near the mouth of Cape Fear River, and lias con¬ 
siderable commerce. Population, 3000. 

Fayetteville, on the Cape Fear River, ninety miles above Wilmington, is a 
thriving and important town. Population, 2868. 

Map of the U. S. —How is North Carolina bounded 1 What is the 
capital 1 Which are the principal rivers ? What two sounds ? What 
noted cape ? What chain of mountains in the western part ? 

Map of the Middle States .—Where is Albemarle Sound 1 Pamlico 
Sound? The Great Dismal Swamp? Where is Currituck Inlet? 
Roanoke Inlet? New Inlet? Cape Hatteras? Ocracoke Inlet? Cape 
Lookout? Can you describe Chowan River? Roanoke River? Pam¬ 
lico River? Neuse River? Cape Fear River? Yadkin River? 

How many counties in North Carolina ? What is the county town 
of each ? W hat counties border on the eastern coast ? Wliat counties 
border on Virginia ? What counties border on Tennessee ? On South 
Carolina ? What counties in the interior ? What towns on Albemarle 
Sound ? On Pamlico Sound ? Roanoke River ? On Chowan River ? 
On Cape Fear River ? Yadkin River? Where is Raleigh ? Beaufort? 
Wilmington? Elizabeth City ? Edenton? 

"What are the general features of North Carolina ? What are the most re¬ 
markable natural features ? What obstructs internal navigation ? What of the 
pine forests ? The Great Dismal Swamp ? Soil and productions ? Minerals ? 
What of Raleigh? Newberne ? Wilmington? Fayetteville? 


80 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


SOUTH CAROLINA. 

South Carolina, in its natural features, resembles most of 
the other southern states, being low, level, and swampy along 
the coast, in the middle more elevated, and in the western part 
mountainous. 

Along the sea coast there is a range of small islands, separated 
from the main land by narrow channels, which admit of steamboat 
navigation. 

The mouths of the rivers are generally obstructed by sandbars, so 
that there are few good harbours. 

The low country, which consists of sand and swamps, is not fertile, 
except along the rivers, but in the elevated part the soil is generally 
good. 

The principal agricultural productions are cotton, rice, and tobacco. 
The numerous islands along the coast of Carolina and Georgia pro¬ 
duce the sea island cotton which is so highly valued. Great quantities 
of lumber, pitch, and tar are procured from the pine forests which 
cover the low country. 

The commerce of South Carolina exceeds any other of the southern 
states, except Louisiana. 

Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina, and one of the principal 
cities in the southern states. It is built in a regular manner, at the junction 
of Ashley and Cooper Rivers, and has an excellent harbour, though difficult of 
entrance. Population, 80,289. 

Charleston has an extensive commerce, chiefly in the exportation of cotton, 
and is much resorted to in w inter by visiters from the northern states and 
West Indies. The people are refined and intelligent; and, except during the 
heat of summer, Charleston is a very pleasant residence. 

Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, is pleasantly situated on the Con- 
garee, just below the junction of the Saluda and Broad Rivers. Pop. 3310. 

Georgetown, on Winyaw Bay, and Camden, on the Wateree River, are 
places of considerable trade. 


Map of the U. S .—How is South Carolina bounded ? What is the 
capital ? Which are the principal rivers 1 What mountains in the 
northwest part ? 

Map of the Southern States .—Can you describe the Great Pedee 
River 1 Santee 1 Wateree? Congaree? Saluda? Edisto? Savan¬ 
nah? How marry counties in South Carolina? What is the county 
town of each ? Where is Charleston? Georgetown? Beaufort? Ches- 
terville ? Yorkville ? Spartanburg ? 

What are the natural features of South Carolina P What of the islands ? 
Rivers p Soil ? Productions P Commerce p What of Charleston ? Commerce 
of Charleston ? Columbia ? Georgetown ? Camden ? 



GEORGIA. 


81 


GEORGIA. 

Georgia is a large and important state, distinguished for the 
extent and value of its agricultural and mineral productions* 

The low country in summer is hot and unhealthy, but the elevated 
and mountainous parts have a healthy and delightful climate. 

In the low country, where the marshy and sandy tracts prevail, the 
soil is poor, but the elevated country is generally fertile. The beauti¬ 
ful islands along the coast chiefly produce the fine sea island cotton. 

The cultivation of cotton is the most profitable agricultural employ¬ 
ment, and both the sea island and upland kinds are produced in great 
quantities. Rice is extensively cultivated in the low country, where 
the land is flooded by the rivers. 

Gold is the most important mineral in Georgia. The gold region, 
which is very extensive, is in the northern part of the state. It is 
probable that no country in the world contains a greater quantity of 
this precious metal. 

The Okefoneko Swamp is partly in Georgia and part in Florida. It 
is 180 miles in circumference, and the Suwanee and St. Mary’s rivers 
flow out of it. 

Nicojack Cave is the principal natural curiosity. The entrance is 
50 feet high and 160 feet wide. The floor is covered by a stream of 
water, which, at the distance of three miles from the entrance, forms a 
cataract, beyond which it has not been explored. 

Savannah is on the Savannah River, seventeen miles from its mouth. The 
situation of the city is elevated and pleasant, with wide, regular streets, and 
many handsome edifices. Savannah is the great cotton market of the state, 
and has considerable commerce. Population, 11,000. 

Augusta, also on the Savannah River, 160 miles from the sea, is a pleasant 
and thriving town, with a great trade in cotton, and other productions of die 
interior. Population, 8000. 

Miixedgeviixe, the capital, stands on the Oconee River, 312 miles above 
die mouth of the Alatamaha. The river is navigable for boats to the sea, and 
the town has considerable trade in cotton. Population, 2000. 

Darien, on the Alatamaha, near its mouth, and Macon, on die Ocmulgee, 
are the other most important towns. 

Map of the U. S .—How is Georgia bounded I What is the capital I 
W T hich are the principal rivers 1 What mountains in the northwest ? 

Map of the Southern States .—Can you describe the Savannah River? 
The Ogechee ? Alatamaha ? Oconee ? Ocmulgee ? Santilla ? St. Ma¬ 
ry’s ? Suwanee ? Flint River ? Chattahoochee ? How many counties 
in Georgia ? W hat is the county town of each ? What counties border 
on the sea coast ? On the Savannah River ? On North Carolina ? On 
Tennessee ? On Alabama 1 On Florida ? What towns on the Savan¬ 
nah River ? On the Oconee ? Ocmulgee ? Flint River ? What towns 
on the coast ? 

For what is Georgia distinguished ? What of the climate ? Soil ? Produc¬ 
tions ? Minerals ? What of Okefoneko swamp ? Nicojack Cave ? What of 
Savannah ? Augusta ? Milledgeville ? Darien ! Macon i* 

4# 


82 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


FLORIDA. 

Florida is a long narrow territory, having a level surface, 
and containing large tracts of swamp and sand, with numerous 
bayous and lakes. 

The climate is delightful in winter, and the heat of summer is tem¬ 
pered by breezes from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. 

The forests of pine and live oak, which are very extensive, yield 
great quantities of valuable timber. 

The soil along the rivers in many places is very fertile, and well 
suited for the cultivation of cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, indigo, sugar, 
oranges, olives, and figs. 

Florida was discovered by the Spaniards in 1497, and settled by 
them in 1624. In 1821 it was ceded by Spain to the United States, 
and in the year following placed under a territorial government. 

Tallahassee, the capital, is a new and flourishing town on the Wakulla 
River, surrounded by a healthy and fertile country. Population, 1200. 

St. Augustine is pleasantly situated near the sea, and has a good harbour. 
The houses are built of a stone formed from a concretion of sea shells. The 
town was settled in 1564, and is the oldest town within the limits of the United 
States. Population, 2000. 

Pensacola is a thriving and healthy town on the Gulf of Mexico, with an 
excellent harbour, and has a navy yard belonging to the United States. Popu¬ 
lation, 2000. 

Map of the U. S .—How is Florida bounded ? What is the capital ? 
Which are the principal rivers ? 


Map of the Southern States. —Can you describe the river St. John’s ? 
The Oclokone ? Apalachicola I Choctaw? Connecuh? Where is 
Pensacola Bay ? Cape St. Bias ? Apalache Bay ? Tampa Bay ? Cape 
Romans? Chatham Bay? Cape Sable? Cape Canaveral? Amelia 
Island ? How many counties in Florida ? What is the county town 
of each ? What counties border on Alabama ? On Georgia? On the 
Atlantic ? On the Gulf of Mexico ? Where is Tallahassee ? Pensa¬ 
cola ? St. Augustine ? St. Mark’s ? 


ALABAMA. 

Alabama is a large state, intersected by numerous rivers. 
The surface in the north is hilly; in the south, low and level, 
with tracts of swamp and sand. 

The climate in the north part is pleasant, and very healthy. The 
heat of summer in the low country is greatly mitigated by refreshing 
breezes from the Gulf of Mexico. 

What are the natural features of Florida ? What of the climate ? The 
forests ? Soil and productions ? When discovered ? When ceded to the United 
States ? What of St. Augustine ? Pensacola ? 

What are the general features of Alabama ? What of the climate ? Soil ? 
Productions ? What of Mobile ? Tuscaloosa ? What other towns i 




MISSISSIPPI. 


83 


The soil is generally fertile, and along the rivers exceedingly pro¬ 
ductive. 

Cotton is the staple agricultural production of Alabama, but corn, 
rice, wheat, and tobacco are also cultivated with success. The sugar¬ 
cane thrives well in the southern part. 

Mobile, on a bay of the same name, is the largest town, and has a consi¬ 
derable trade, chiefly in the exportation of cotton. Population, 6000. 

Tuscaloosa, the capital, is a thriving town on the Black Warrior River, 
near the centre of the state. Population, 2000. 

Huntsville, Florence, and Tuscumbia, in the valley of the Tennessee River 
are flourishing towns. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Alabama bounded ! What is the capital ! 
Which are the principal rivers ! What large river runs through the 
northern part ! 

Map of the Southern States. —Can you describe the Alabama River I 
The Tombeekbee! The Black W 7 arrior ! The Coosa? Talapoosa! 
Cahaw r ba! Mobile! Connecuh! Tennessee! Where is Mobile Bay! 
Muscle Shoals! How many counties in Alabama! What is the 
county town of each ! What counties border on the Gulf of Mexico ! 
On Florida! On Georgia! On Tennessee! On Mississippi! What 
towns on Alabama River ! On the Cahawba River ! On the Black 
Warrior ! Tennessee ! 


MISSISSIPPI. 

Mississippi has a level surface, with a gentle slope from the 
north part towards the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. 

There are some extensive swamps, especially near the Mississippi 
River, but a large portion of the state is very fertile, and well suited 
for cultivation. 

The climate is warm, but generally healthy, except along the rivers 
and swamps, where fevers sometimes prevail in -summer. 

Cotton is the most important agricultural production, though grain, 
tobacco, and indigo thrive well. The sugar-cane is successfully cul¬ 
tivated in the southern part. 

Natches, the most important town, has a considerable commerce by the 
Mississippi River, on which it is situated. Population, 2790. 

Jackson, the capital, is a small town on Pearl River. Population, 1000. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Mississippi bounded ! What is the capi¬ 
tal ! Which are the principal rivers ! Can you describe the Missis¬ 
sippi River! 

Map of the Southern States _Can you describe the Yazoo River! 

The Big Black River ! Homochitto ! Pearl! Pascagoula! Tom- 
beckbee! How many counties in Mississippi! What is the county 

What is the general character of Mississippi ? What of the face of the 
country ? Climate ? Productions ? What of Natchez ? Jackson ? 







84 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


town of each ? What counties border on the Gulf of Mexico ? What 
counties on Alabama ? On Tennessee ? On the Mississippi River ? 
What towns on the Mississippi River ? On Pearl River 1 


LOUISIANA. 

Louisiana is an immense plain ? diversified in its surface by 
prairies, swamps, pine, oak, and hickory lands, and intersected 
by numerous rivers. 

The climate is very mild in winter, and along 1 the Gulf of Mexico 
the heat of summer is mitigated by pleasant breezes, but near the 
swamps and rivers fevers prevail. 

The southern portion of the state, being overflowed by the Missis¬ 
sippi and other nvers, is not productive, but there is a large extent of 
fertile land, on which immense herds of cattle are fed, and great quan¬ 
tities of cotton, rice, and sugar produced. 

Louisiana, together with the immense extent of country, 
now belonging to the United States, lying west of the Mississip¬ 
pi River, was purchased from France, in 1803, for fifteen millions 
of dollars. 

The levee is an embankment from six to eight feet high, which ex¬ 
tends along both sides of the Mississippi for nearly 200 miles, and 
has been made with great labour and expense to prevent the river from 
overflowing the adjacent country. 

New Orleans, the capital, is on the Mississippi River, about 100 miles 
from its mouth. It has rapidly risen to he one of the principal ports of the 
United States, and its increase must be progressive, as it is the only outlet for 
the immense quantity of produce brought down the Mississippi and its 
branches. Population, 70,000. 

New Orleans is now superior, in the value of its exports, to any city in the 
United States, except New York, and at no very remote period will, no doubt, 
rank among the first commercial cities in the world. 

Baton Rouge, St. Francisville, Iberville, Natchitoches, and Opelousas are 
some of the other principal towns. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Louisiana bounded I What is the capi¬ 
tal 1 Which are the principal rivers I Can you describe the Missis¬ 
sippi River ? Red River ? Arkansas ? 

Map of the Southern States. —Can you describe the Sabine River I 
Oalcasiu? Vermillion 1 Teche ? Atchafalaya ? Lafourche! Oua- 
chitta ? W'here is Lake Borgne 1 Lake Ponchartrain ? Lake Mau- 
repas? Lake Barataria? Barataria Bay? Timballier Bay ? At¬ 
chafalaya Bay? Vermillion Bay? Mermentau Lake? Calcasiu 
Lake? Sabine Lake ? How many parishes in Louisiana? What is 

What of Louisiana ? Climate? Soil and productions ? From what nation 
was Louisiana purchased, and when ? Can you describe the levee ? What 
of New Orleans? What of the commerce of New Orleans? What other 
owns? 



WESTERN STATES. 


85 


the capital town of each 1 What parishes border on the Gulf of Mexi¬ 
co ? On Mississippi! On Arkansas 1 What city and towns on the 
Mississippi River ? Where is Madisonville 1 Opelousas % Alexan¬ 
dria 1 N atchitoches ? 


WESTERN STATES. 

The Western States are Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indi¬ 
ana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Arkansas. Wisconsin 
Territory is also connected with this region. The vast regions 
of the Upper Missouri and the Oregon have no organized go¬ 
vernments, and are inhabited only by the Indian tribes. 

The western states occupy the extensive region between the Alle¬ 
ghany and Rocky Mountains. This section excites the deepest interest, 
both by its present condition and its capacity to sustain the mighty 
population with which it will be covered at no distant period. 

Forests and prairies are the two grand features which mark the sur¬ 
face of the western country. The forests predominate in the eastern 
part. A portion of the country east of the Mississippi, and nearly the 
whole of the country between that river and the Rocky Mountains, 
consist of one boundless prairie. 

Many of the forest trees are of gigantic dimensions, and in rich soils 
present objects which carry the mind back to a period long before the 
feet of the white man touched the American shore. 

The prairies consist of endless meadows, with scarcely a tree or 
shrub, but covered with grass six or eight feet high. 

Sometimes the prairies, either by accident or design, are set on fire, 
when the flame rushes through the long grass with a noise like thun¬ 
der, dense clouds of smoke arise, and the sky itself seems to be 
almost on fire. 

The western states have been settled with great rapidity, and the 
tide of population is still rushing westward. The people are emi¬ 
grants from Europe or the older states of the Union, and are generally 
cordial, friendly, and hospitable. 

The climate of the western states is generally healthy. The 
winters in the northern parts are severe, in the south mild. 

The great valley of the Mississippi, watered by that mighty river 
and its numerous tributary streams, contains a greater body of fertile 
land than is found together in any other part of the world. 

The agricultural productions of the western country are very exten¬ 
sive and abundant. Cotton and tobacco are raised in the southern part, 
and wheat, corn, and other kinds of grain, are everywhere produced 
in great quantities. 

The Mississippi, and the numerous rivers which flow into it, being con- 

Which are the western states ? What region do they occupy ? What are 
their general features ? What of the forests ? Prairies ? Prairies on fire ? 
What of their settlement ? Climate ? What of the great valley of the Mis¬ 
sissippi ? What of the trade ? Agriculture ? Cities ? 





86 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


stantly navigated by steamboats, afford a ready outlet for the surplus produce 
of this immense region by the way of New Orleans, and there is also an ex¬ 
tensive trade with New York, Philadelphia, and other Atlantic cities. 

The great fertility of soil, and extent of uncultivated land, will for a long 
time render agriculture the prevailing occupation of the western states, though 
there are some flourishing manufactures. 

Of the cities in the western states, Cincinnati, Louisville, and St. Louis are 
those which enjoy the greatest commercial advantages, and are making the 
most rapid advances in wealth and importance. 


Map of the U. S .—Which of the western states extends furthest 
north? Which extends furthest east? Furthest south? Furthest 
west? Which of the western states is the smallest? Which the 
largest ? What three are bounded south by the Ohio River ? What 
three are bounded west by the Mississippi River ? What two lie on 
the west side of the Mississippi River ? What four border on the 
great lakes? Can you describe the Mississippi River? The Mis¬ 
souri ? Ohio ? Arkansas ? 


TENNESSEE. 

Tennessee is a long, narrow state, through which the Cum¬ 
berland Mountains extend, dividing it into East and West Ten¬ 
nessee. 

Tennessee has a healthy and delightful climate, especially in the 
eastern part, which, for salubrity and pleasantness, is surpassed by no 
other country. 

East Tennessee is somewhat broken by mountains, with very fertile 
valleys. West Tennessee is more level, the soil generally good, and 
in many places of the best piality. 

Agriculture in this state is to a great extent directed to the raising of 
cotton, but the soil is well adapted to Indian corn, wheat, rye, and 
oats, which are produced in great abundance and excellence. 

Nashville, the capital, is at the head of steamboat navigation on the Cum¬ 
berland River. It is surrounded by a fertile country, and is a place of con¬ 
siderable trade. The imiversity of Nashville is a flourishing literary institu¬ 
tion. Population, 7000. 

Knoxville, on the river Holston, twenty-two miles from the Tennessee 
River, is the principal town in the eastern paid of the state. Murfreesboro 
and Memphis are also flourishing towns. 

Map of the U. S .—How is Tennessee bounded ? What is the capi¬ 
tal? Which are the principal rivers? Where are the Cumberland 
Mountains? Can you describe the Tennessee River? Cumberland 
River? 


Map of the Western States .—Can you describe the Forked Deer 
River ? Big Hatchel River ? Duck River ? Holston River ? Powell 

Can you describe Tennessee ? What of the climate ? Face of the country ? 
Agriculture ? What of Nashville ? Knoxville ? What other towns ? 





KENTUCKY. 


87 


River? Hiwassee? The Cumberland Mountains? How many coun¬ 
ties in Tennessee ? Which is the county town of each ? What coun¬ 
ties border on Kentucky ? On Virginia? On North Carolina? On 
Georgia? On Alabama? On Mississippi? On the Mississippi 
River ? What counties in the interior ? W hat towns on the Tennes¬ 
see River? On the Cumberland River? Where is Nashville? 
Murfreesboro ? Knoxville ? 


KENTUCKY. 

Kentucky is agreeably diversified by hills and plains, and the 
scenery is generally picturesque and beautiful in its appearance. 

The climate is healthy and pleasant, with mild winters, and 
the heat of summer moderate. 

The soil of Kentucky is generally good, and a section 150 miles 
long by 50 miles wide, in the middle part, is unsurpassed for fertility. 

Wheat, rye, oats, Indian corn, hemp, and tobacco are the chief ob¬ 
jects of culture in Kentucky, and cattle and hogs are raised in great 
numbers. 

The Mammoth Cave [Fig. 

60] of Kentucky is the 
greatest natural curiosity of 
the kind in the world. It 
has been explored to the 
distance of sixteen miles 
from the entrance without 
reaching its termination. 

The sides and roof of this 
cave consist of limestone 
perfectly white, and one of 
its apartments is eight acres 
in extent and 100 feet high. 

Other apartments contain 
columns of brilliant spar, 
sixty or seventy feet high. 

In this cave great quantities of saltpetre are found. . ... 

Louisville is a busy and flourishing place on the Ohio, at the rapids which 
interrupt the navigation of that river. Population, 20,000. 

Lexington, the former capital, is a pleasant and flourishing town, with con¬ 
siderable trade and manufactures. Population, 6104. 

Frankfort, the capital, is on the Kentucky River, above its confluence with 
the Ohio. Population, 1680. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Kentucky bounded ? What is the capi¬ 
tal ? Which are the principal rivers ? Can you describe the Ohio 
River? Cumberland River? Tennessee River? 

Map of the Western States .— 1 Can you describe the Sandy River ? 

What are the general features of Kentucky ? What of the climate ? Soil ? 
Productions ? Can you describe the Mammoth Cave ? What of the interior. 
What of Louisville? Lexington? Frankfort? 



Mammoth Cave, Fig. 60. 







88 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Licking River ? Kentucky River ? Rolling Forks ? Green River? 
How many counties in Kentucky ? Which is the county town of 
each? What counties border on the Ohio River? On Virginia? 
On Tennessee ? On the Mississippi River ? What towns on the Ohio 
River ? Sandy River ? Licking River ? Kentucky River ? Green 
River ? Where is Frankfort ? Lexington ? Louisville ? 


OHIO. 

Ohio has generally a level surface, with the exception of some 
hilly tracts in the south part, and is watered by many beautiful 
rivers. 

The surface of this state has a gentle declivity towards the Ohio 
River, except a small portion of the northern part, which inclines 
towards Lake Erie. 

The climate is mild, pleasant, and healthy, and the soil amongst the 
most fertile on the face of the earth. 

Ohio produces Indian corn, wheat, Tye, and oats in perfection, and 
in some parts cotton and tobacco are raised. 

Ohio has a very extensive trade, both by Lake Erie and by the Ohio 
and Mississippi Rivers. The exports consist chiefly of flour, grain, 
pork, horses, and cattle. 

Ohio is more extensively engaged in manufactures than any other of the 
western states. The manufactures consist of cotton, woollen, flour, paper, and 
steam machinery, with other articles from iron. 

The mineral wealth of Ohio is very great. Iron and coal are found in great 
abundance, and salt springs are numerous, from which great quantities of salt 
are made. Limestone and marble are also abundant. 

The fertility of the soil and mildness of the climate, together with its con¬ 
venient position for trade, has produced an immense emigration to Ohio, and 
its rapid advancement in wealth and population is without a parallel in any 
other state. 

Columbus, the capital of Ohio, is pleasantly situated on the Sciota River, 
near the centre of the state, and is a thriving town. Population, 4000. 

Cincinnati, on the Ohio River, near the southwestern corner of the state, is 
the largest and most important town in the western country. It is well built 
on a regular plan, and presents ranges of handsome brick houses, with spa¬ 
cious markets and substantial public buildings. 

Cincinnati carries on a most extensive trade up and down the Ohio River, 
along the Ohio Canal, which here joins the river, and also by the Miami 
Canal. It also has flourishing manufactories of various kinds. 

The increase of Cincinnati in population and importance has been more 
rapid than any other city in the United States. The population, which in 
1805 did not exceed 500, now amounts to more than 30,000. 

Dayton, Zanesville, Sandusky, Cleveland, and many others, are thriving 
towns, and are advancing in wealth and population with great rapidity. 

What are the general features of Ohio ? Surface ? Climate and soil ? Pro¬ 
ductions ? What of the trade of Ohio ? Manufactures ? Minerals ? What 
has produced a rapid emigration to Ohio ? What of Columbus ? Cincinnati ? 
Trade of Cincinnati ? Increase in population ? What other flourishing 
towns i 



MICHIGAN. 


89 


Map of the U. S .—How is Ohio bounded ! What is the capital ! 
Which are the principal rivers ! What great lake on its northern 
boundary ! Can you describe the Ohio River ! 


Map of the Western States .•—Can you describe the Muskingum River ? 
Hockmg! Sciota ! Miami] Little Miami] Maumee] Cuyaho¬ 
ga ] What canals ! What counties in Ohio ! Which is the county 
town of each ] What counties bordering on Michigan ! On Lake 
Erie] On Pennsylvania] On the Ohio River ! On Indiana] What 
city and towns on the Ohio River] On the Muskingum] On the 
Hocking ] On the Sciota ] On the Miami River ! On the Maumee ] 
On or near Lake Erie ] Where is Columbus 1 Cincinnati I Mariet¬ 
ta] Cleveland] 


MICHIGAN. 

Michigan has a level surface, intersected by numerous rivers, 
and is almost surrounded by great lakes. 

The climate is healthy, but the winters are cold and long. The 
soil is very fertile, and well adapted to the production of wheat, rye, 
oats, and Indian corn. 

The tide of emigration to Michigan is very great, and the state is 
rapidly increasing m wealth and population. 

Detroit, the capital, and only important town, is pleasantly situated on De¬ 
troit River, and is a place of considerable trade. Population, 8000. 

Mackinaw, on an island in a strait of the same name, is a fort and village, 
where the fur trade with the Indians has been chiefly transacted. 


Map of the U. S .—How is Michigan bounded ! What is the capi¬ 
tal ] Which are the principal rivers 1 W T hat four great lakes con¬ 
nected with Michigan ! 

Map of the Western States .—Can you describe the River Raisin 1 Hu¬ 
ron Riverl St. Joseph’s River! Kalamazoo River! Saganaw! 
Chiboiegon! Manistic! St.John’s! Ontanagon! Montreal! Me- 
nomanie ! What rivers flow into Lake Superior! Where is Creep 
Bay! Saganaw Bay! Lake St. Clair! Straits of Michilimaclri- 
nac or Mackinaw! What counties in Michigan! Which is the county 
town of each! Where is Detroit! Monroe! St. Joseph! 


INDIANA. 

Indiana contains no mountains, but a considerable portion of 
the southern pari is hilly, and in other places interspersed with 
woodlands, prairies, lakes, and swamps. 

What of Michigan ? Climate ? Soil and productions ? What of the 
population ? What of Detroit ? Mackinaw ? 

What is the general character of Indiana ? What of the climate ? Soil 







90 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The climate is generally healthy and pleasant, with mild winters in 
the south, and in the northern part more severe. 

The soil is very fertile, and produces Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats, 
barley, and other kinds of grain, in great abundance, which, with beef 
and pork, are the principal articles of exportation. 

There are salt springs in some parts, and coal, iron, and copper are 
found in different places. 

Indianapolis, the capital, is on the White River, near the centre of the 
state, but is yet only in its infancy. Population, 2000. 

Vincennes, on the Wabash, is the oldest town in the state, being originally 
settled by the French from Canada. Population, 1500. 

Madison, on the Ohio River, is a thriving town, with considerable trade. 

Vevay is a Swiss settlement, which contains the most extensive vineyards in 
the United States, from which considerable quantities of wine are produced. 

Map of the U. S .—How is Indiana bounded 1 What is the capital ? 
Which are the principal rivers ? What large lake on the northwest I 
Can you describe the Mississippi River ? Ohio ? 


Map of the Western States .—Can you describe the Wabash River 1 
White River ? Muskakituck or East Branch of White River 1 White 
Water River? St. Joseph’s River? What other rivers? WhaJ 
counties in Indiana ? What is the county town of each ? What coun¬ 
ties border on Lake Michigan ? On the state of Michigan ? On 
Ohio ? On the Ohio River ? On Indiana ? What counties in the in¬ 
terior ? What towns on the Ohio River ? On the White River ? On 
the Wabash? Where is Indianapolis? Madison? Vincennes? Vevay? 


ILLINOIS. 

Illinois is generally level, but in some places diversified by 
hills, woods, and prairies, and watered by a great number of 
rivers and smaller streams. 

The climate of Illinois is pleasant and generally healthy. In the 
south the winters are mild, and colder in the north part. 

The minerals are lead, which is found in vast quantities in the 
northern part, coal, iron, copper, which are also abundant, and salt is 
extensively manufactured in several places from salt springs. 

Illinois is a very fertile state, and produces wheat, rye, oats, Indian 
corn, and hemp in abundance. 

Springfield, the capital, is a new, but thriving town. Vandalia, the for¬ 
mer capital, is pleasantly situated. Shawneetown, Edwardsville, and Alton 
are flourishing towns. 

Map of the U. S. —How is Illinois bounded ? What is the capital ? 
Which are the principal rivers ? What large lake on the northeast ? 
Can you describe the Mississippi River ? Ohio ? 

and productions ? What minerals ? What of Indianapolis ? Vincennes ? 
Madison ? Vevay ? 

What are the general features of Illinois ? The climate ? What minerals ? 
What of the soil and productions ? What of Springfield ? Vandalia ? W hat 
other towns ? 




MISSOURI.—ARKANSAS. 


91 


Map of the Western States .—Can you describe the Illinois River? 
Rock River? Kaskaskia? Wabash? Little Wabash ? Embarras ? 
Kankakee? Vermillion? Sangamon? What counties in Illinois? 
What is the county town of each ? What counties border on Wisconsin 
Territory? On Lake Michigan? On Indiana? On the Ohio River? On 
the Mississippi ? What towns on the Mississippi River ? On the Ohio ? 
On the Kaskaskia? On the Illinois ? Where is Springfield? Van- 
dalia? Chicago? Galena? 


MISSOURI. 

Missouri is a large and very fertile state, in s«me places 
broken and hilly, but the greater part consists of extensive and 
wide-spreading prairies. Along the Mississippi River also there 
are extensive swamps. 

The climate is generally healthy, but the weather is more subject to 
great extremes of cold and heat than the other western states. 

The lead mines of Missouri are probably the most extensive and 
productive in the world; coal, iron, salt, and other valuable minerals, 
are also found in abundance. 

Wheat, Indian corn, cotton, flax, and hemp are the staple produc¬ 
tions. 

Jefferson City, the capital, is a new but thriving town, on the Missouri 
River. 

St. Louis, on the Mississippi River, is the largest and most important town 
in the state. It is eighteen miles below the mouth of the Missouri, and is very 
favourably situated for trade. Population, 12,000. 


Map of the U. S .—How is Missouri bounded ? What is the capital ? 
Which are the principal rivers ? Can you describe the Mississippi 
River ? The Missouri ? 

Map of the Western States .—Can you describe the Grand River ? 
Chariton? Salt River? Merrimac? Gasconade? Osage? Current 
River? St. Francis? What counties in Missouri? What is the 
county town of each ? What counties border on the Mississippi 
River ? On the north side of the Missouri River ? On the south side ? 
What towns on the Mississippi River? On the Missouri River? 
Where is St. Louis? St. Charles? Jefferson City? New Madrid? 


ARKANSAS. 

Arkansas is greatly diversified in its natural features. It 
consists of mountains, valleys, prairies, and swamps, and the 
soil is of all qualities, from the best to the worst. 

The low swampy country along the Mississippi and other great 
rivers is not healthy, but in the elevated parts the air is pure and salu¬ 
brious. 

What are the general characters of Missouri ? What of the climate ? 

What minerals ? Productions? What of Jefferson City ? St. Louis? 






92 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The soil in many places is exceedingly fertile, and produces abun¬ 
dant crops of cotton, wheat, rye, Indian corn, and other kinds of 
grain. 

Ltttle Rock, the capital, on Arkansas River, about 500 miles from its 
mouth, is the most important town. 


Map of the U. S .—How is Arkansas bounded ! What is the capi¬ 
tal 1 Which are the principal rivers ! Can you describe the Missis¬ 
sippi River I Arkansas I Red River ! 


Map of the Southern States .—Can you describe the White River I The 
Saline! Wachitta! St. Francis! What counties in Arkansas! 
Which is the county town of each! What counties bordering on 
Missouri! On the Mississippi River! On Louisiana! What coun¬ 
ties on the western boundary on the interior! W'here is Little Rock! 
Arkansas! 


WISCONSIN TERRITORY. 

Wisconsin is a very extensive territory, having a surface 
generally level and watered by a great number of rivers and lakes. 

The climate is cold in winter, but the air is healthy and salubrious 
at all seasons. 

The soil is generally fertile, and this territory contains extensive 
and beautiful prairies, in which herds of bisons, elk, and deer are found. 

The minerals of Wisconsin are lead and copper, which are found 
in great abundance, and several other valuable minerals are supposed 
to exist, though the country has been little explored. 

The Sioux, Ioway, Menomonie, and other tribes of Indians, still inhabit this 
territory. 

The principal white settlements are in the neighbourhood of Green Bay 
and Prairie du Chien. 

Madison, the capital, is a new town, but is rapidly increasing in population. 


Map of the U. S. —How is Wisconsin Territory bounded ! What is 
the capital! Which are the principal rivers ! What great lakes con¬ 
nected with it! Can you describe the Mississippi River! What 
rivers empty into the Mississippi! Into Lake Superior! Into Green 
Bay! Where is Turtle Lake ! Lake of the Woods ! Rainy Lake ! 
Spirit Lake! Winnebago Lake! Where is Prairie du Chien! Mil- 
waukie ! Mineral Point! 


MISSOURI TERRITORY. 

Missouri Territory includes the extensive region east of 
the Rocky Mountains, belonging to the United States, but occu¬ 
pied by the independent Indian tribes. 

What of the natural features of Arkansas ? What of the health of the 
country ? Soil and productions ? What of Little Rock ? 

What is the general character of Wisconsin ? What of the climate ? Soil ? 
Minerals ? What Indians ? White settlements ? What of Madison ? 







MISSOURI TERRITORY. 


93 


The Rocky Mountains, from which the Missouri and Oregon Rivers 
| take their rise, form a part of the great range which extends along the 
! western side of the continent. 

The Rocky Mountains are the most elevated within the boundaries of 
I the United States. Some of the peaks rise from twelve to eighteen thou- 
I sand feet above the level of the sea, and are covered with perpetual snow. 

The greater part of this extensive region is intersected by the Mis- 
i souri River ana its numerous tributary branches. 

The Missouri River, with the Mississippi, into which it flows, is the 
longest river on the globe, being more than 4500 miles in length. 

Along the borders of the Upper Missouri, where that river forces its pas¬ 
sage through some of the ridges of the Rocky Mountains, perhaps the sub- 
limest scenery in the world is presented. Precipitous peaks of blackish rock 
frown above the river more than a thousand feet in perpendicular height. 

The river there becomes almost a continued cataract for seventeen miles, in 
which distance there are four perpendicular falls, the highest of which is 98 
feet. Except Niagara, these falls are the grandest in the world. 




The climate in the northern part, and near the Rocky Mountains, 
even in the south, is cold. The eastern part has a much milder climate. 

The eastern part of the Missouri Territory is a level plain, covered with 
wide-spreading and extensive prairies. In some places also there are exten- 

n i TAvi.’icf A I n nmA r\ n»it i r\r t r\ urAef n»»r» rvnnf 

T V/ JkVSJL V/Utot M. *1*1 W v- l/VJl V/* HIV »» vv l)VI. I* 1 M.V* V - 

is covered with sand, and greatly resembles the de¬ 
serts of Arabia and Africa. The Rocky Moun¬ 
tains are along the western margin. 

Immense herds of wild horses, bisons, elk, deer, 
and other wild animals, occupy the vast plains of 
this region. Of these the bison [Fig. 61] is the 
most remarkable, on account of the immense herds 
in which they collect. A single herd is said some¬ 
times to consist of ten thousand. By surrounding 
and frightening them, the Indians drive a whole 
herd over a precipice, by which they are de- Bison, r lg. bl. 
stroved. 

The grisly bear, [Fig. 62,] found only among 
the Rocky Mountains, is a very large and fierce 
animal, weighing, when full grown, eight or nine 
hundred pounds. He is very difficult to kill, and 
so ferocious, that the hunters approach him with the 
greatest caution. 

Missouri Territory is occupied by independ¬ 
ent Indian tribes, except one or two military 
stations, and the hunters and trappers who 

traverse these vast regions to procure furs. Grisly Bear, Fig. 62. 


What does the Missouri Territory include ? What of the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains ? Their height ? What rivers intersect this region ? What of the 
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers ? What of the scenery of the Upper Mis¬ 
souri ? What of the tails on the Missouri ? What of the climate r Face of 
the country ? What animals ? 


94 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Map of the U. S .—Can you describe the Missouri River! The Ar¬ 
kansas! Kanzes! La Platte! Yellow Stone! What other rivers 
empty into the Missouri! What Indian tribes inhabit Missouri Terri¬ 
tory ! Where is Council Bluffs! Lake Eustis ! Long’s Peak ! 


OREGON TERRITORY. 

Oregon Territory includes all that portion of United States 
territory west of the Rocky Mounains. 

Between the Rocky Mountains and the sea is another chain, through which 
the Columbia River passes and forms the great falls. Further west, at the 
distance of 150 miles from the sea, is another range of mountains. Both these 
ranges of mountains are lofty, and their highest peaks are covered with per¬ 
petual snow. 

The Oregon, or Columbia, is a very large river, which rises in 
the Rocky Mountains, near the source of the Missouri, and 
after receiving several large tributaries, empties into the Pacific 
Ocean. 

Between the ridges of mountains there are many fertile valleys. The prai¬ 
ries, like those on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, are covered with 
grass and beautiful flowers. The plains and prairies have a fine soil, but there 
is a deficiency of timber, except along the sea coast. 

The climate is much milder than on the Atlantic coast in the same 
latitude, being sheltered from cold winds on 
the north by ridges of mountains, and fanned 
by warm breezes from the Pacific Ocean. 

This country was explored by Lewis and 
Clark, in 1805, and a settlement, called As¬ 
toria, was made by fur traders at the mouth 
of the Oregon, but was afterwards aban¬ 
doned. 

The far traders sometimes cross the Rocky 
Mountains and descend the Columbia River, 
but this territory is occupied only by Indians, 
Rocky Mt. Goat, Fig. 63. which are estimated at 140,000 in number. 

The Rocky Mountain goat [Fig. 63] in¬ 
habits the most lofty peaks of the Rocky 
Mountains, and probably extends from lati¬ 
tude 40° to 65°. The fine wool which it 
produces grows principally on the back and 
hips, and is intermixed with long, coarse 
hair. 

The Rocky Mountain sheep [Fig. 64] is 
much larger than the domestic sheep. The 
horns of the ram are immense. The hair is 
like that of the reindeer, at first short, fine, 
Rocky Mt. Sheep, Fig. 64. and flexible, but as winter advances it be- 

What does Oregon Territory include ? What ranges of mountains ? What 
of the Oregon River ? What of the soil ? Climate ? Who explored this 









BRITISH AMERICA. 


95 


comes coarser, dry, and brittle; though it 
feels soft, it is then so close as to become 
erect. The Rocky Mountain sheep inhabit 
the lofty chain from which their name is de¬ 
rived, from about latitude 40° to the northern 
termination. 

The most remarkable land bird is the 
great California vulture, [Fig. 65.] It mea¬ 
sures four feet and a half long. Their food 
is carrion and dead fish, and m no instance 
will they attack any living animal unless it 
be wounded and unable to walk. 



California V ulture, Fig. 65. 


Maps of North America and U. S .—How is Oregon Territory bound¬ 
ed I What great chain of mountains 1 What places along the coast of 
the Pacific Ocean 1 Can you describe the Oregon or Columbia River 1 
Lewis’River 1 Clark’s River 1 The Multnomah 1 Where is Way- 
ton Lake I Shalette Lake 1 What Indians inhabit Oregon Territory 1 


BRITISH AMERICA. 

Great Britain claims the right to occupy all that portion of 
the continent of America north of the United States, (except a 
small portion belonging to Russia in the northwest,) with New 
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the islands near the mouth of the 
St. Lawrence. 

The climate of British North America is very severe. Upper and 
Lower Canada are covered with snow five or six months in the year, 
and farther north the winter is almost perpetual. 

The river St. Lawrence, with the great lakes of which it is the 
outlet, forms the most important feature of this region, forming a 
system of lakes and rivers unequalled in any other part of the world. 

This vast extent of country is exceedingly diversified in its natural 
features. Lakes and rivers form a large portion of the surface of the 
country. 

The soil is very various, but in the southern part much of it is fer¬ 
tile, and produces abundance of grain, grasses, and such fruits as are 
suitable for the climate. 

An article of food extensively used by the Canadian hunters in the 
Arctic regions is a species of liverwort called tripe de roche, though 
it affords a poor article of diet. 

On the Rocky Mountains is found a curious plant, whose long run¬ 
ners extend like legs from the body of a spider, from which it is called 
the spider plant. 

region ? What of the inhabitants ? The Rocky Mountain goat ? Rocky 
Mountain sheep ? California vulture ? 

What part of North America does Great Britain claim ? What of the cli¬ 
mate ? What great river and lakes ? What are the natural features of British 
America ? What of the soil ? What article of food ? What of the spider 





96 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The larger animals found in this part of 
British America are the barren ground, grisly, 
black, and white bears, the prong-horned an¬ 
telope, the bison, moose deer, and carabou. 
Wolves, foxes, the otter, badger, raccoon, 
ermine, pine martin, marmots, and squirrels 
are also numerous. 

The raccoon in appearance resembles the 
fox, but its motions are like ^the bear. It 
sleeps by day, and at night prowls about 
The Raccoon, Fig. 66. after fruits, birds, and insects. The raccoon 
[Fig. 66] is found throughout nearly the 
whole of North America. 

The Canada lynx [Fig. 67] is a timid ani¬ 
mal, which never injures man or the larger 
animals, but lives principally on hares. 

Among the birds of prey are the golden 
and white-headed eagle of Europe, the fish- 
hawk, the rough-legged falcon, and the great 
white owl, which feed on the grouse, which 
are numerous. 

The water-fowl are found in immense num¬ 
bers and in great variety, amongst which the Canada or wild goose 
is the largest and most abundant. 

The discovery of British North America was effected at a 
very early period by John and Sebastian Cabot, who explored 
the coast of what is now the United States, and extended their 
voyage northward to the mouth of the St. Lawrence and the 
coast of Labrador in 1498. 

Some years after, the French navigator, Jacques Cartier, sailed 
up the St. Lawrence to Montreal; and in 1608 a colony was 
founded, and the country called New France. 

Canada was conquered by Great Britain in the war which was ter¬ 
minated by the battle of Quebec in 1763, and has ever since been 
faithfully attached to the British government. 

The British dominions in North America are divided into the five 
provinces of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, New Brunswick, Nova 
Scotia, Prince Edward’s Island, and Newfoundland. 

Each of these provinces has a governor and council, appointed by 
the British government, and a house of commons chosen by the 
people. 


May) of North America .—How are the British possessions in North 
America bounded ? What great chain of mountains in the western 

plant ? What large animals in this region ? What other animals ? What of 
the raccoon ? Pine martin ? Canada lynx ? What birds of prey ? Water-fowl ? 
When and by whom was British North America discovered ? When was 
Canada conquered by the British ? What five provinces included in British 
North America ? How are they governed ? 






UPPER AND LOWER CANADA. 


97 


part ? What two great bays are connected with this region I What 
gulf in the eastern part] What great lakes in the southern part] 
What islands near the Gulf of St. Lawrence ] 


UPPER CANADA. 

Upper Canada is a vast region commencing at the Lake St. 
Francis, a little above Montreal, and extending along the whole 
chain of great lakes to the western boundary of Lake Superior. 

The winters of Upper Canada are cold and long, but the cli¬ 
mate is pleasant and salubrious. 

A large portion of the soil is extremely fertile, and wheat, 
rye, and Indian corn are the staple agricultural productions. 

On the Niagara River, which flows out of Lake Erie into Lake On¬ 
tario, is the cataract of Niagara, the most grand and awful object of 
the kind in nature. 

The waters of the river, after being agitated like a sea for two miles 
by rapids, come to a precipitous rock, when they pour down their 
whole mass in one tremendous plunge of 165 feet perpendicular. 

Toronto, the capital of Upper Canada, formerly called York, is near the 
northwest extremity of Lake Ontario. It consists chiefly of one long street 
along the margin of the lake. 

Kingston, at the northeast extremity of Lake Ontario, is a handsome town, 
and has an excellent harbour. 

Map of North America and U. S .—HoW is Upper Canada bounded I 
What four great lakes belong partly to Upper Canada] What great 
river flows out of Lake Ontario ] What river separates Upper from 
Lower Canada] Where is Lake Nipising] Timiscanning] Lake 
Simcoe ] Where is Toronto ] Kingston ] 


LOWER CANADA. 

Lower Canada extends along the banks of the St. Law r rence 
up as far as the Lake St. Francis, a little above Montreal. 

Lower Canada was first settled by the French, and their de¬ 
scendants, called habitans , still form a majority of the popu¬ 
lation. 

Lower Canada contains a large portion of fertile soil, and, 
though the winters are long and severe, the summers are warm, 
and vegetation is very rapiu. Wheat, rye, and some other kinds 
of grain, are produced in abundance. 

What is Upper Canada ? What of the climate ? Soil and productions ? 
What cataract on the Niagara River ? What is the height of the fall ? What 
of Toronto ? Kingston ? 

What is the extent of Lower Canada ? By whom was Lower Canada first 
settled f What of the soil ? Climate ? Productions ? The fisheries f What 
of Quebec ? Montreal ? 


5 









98 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The fisheries on the coast, and the timber trade, are actively prose¬ 
cuted, and are important sources of wealth to the inhabitants. 

Quebec, [Fig. 68,] the 
capital of Lower Canada, 
is situated half on a plain 
along the northern bank 
of the St. Lawrence, and 
the other half on a steep 
perpendicular rock which 
rises 350 feet above. It is 
so strongly fortified that 
it is deemed impregnable. 

Montreal, on an island 
in the St. Lawrence, is 
the commercial capital of 
Lower Canada. It is the 
City of Quebec, Fig. 68. centre of the fur trade 

carried on by the Hud¬ 
son’s Bay Company, and of the commerce with the United States. 


Map of North America and U. S .—How is Lower Canada bounded ? 
What great river flows through it 1 Can you describe the St. Law¬ 
rence 1 The Ottawa 1 St. Maurice 1 St. Francis ? Richelieu or Sorel 1 
Where is Quebec 1 Montreal 1 



NEW BRUNSWICK. 

New Brunswick is a large country northwest of Nova 
Scotia, from which it is separated by the Bay of Fundy. The 
western part is diversified by bold eminences; but Mars Hill, 
the most elevated point, does not exceed 2000 feet in height. 

The soil is generally fertile, and, though the climate is cold, grain, 
when tried, has succeeded well; but agriculture has not made such 
progress as to render the country independent of a foreign supply. 

This country is still almost entirely covered with a magnificent 
forest, from which immense supplies of lumber are obtained, and 
almost all the efforts of the inhabitants are directed to the timber trade. 

The towns are built almost entirely at the mouths of rivers, and supported 
by the trade in timber brought down their streams, except Frederickton, the 
fx^at of government, which is a thriving town of 1800 inhabitants, 85 miles up 
the river St. John’s. 

St. John’s, on a fine harbour at the mouth of the river, is the most im¬ 
portant town, with considerable commerce, and contains 10,000 inhabitants. 

St. Andrew’s, at the head of Passamaquoddy Bay, besides its timber trade, 
lias a considerable fishery, and contains 5000 inhabitants. 

Map of North America .—How is New Brunswick bounded ? What 
bay between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia ? Where is St. John’s 1 
Frederickton ? 

What is New Brunswick ? What of the soil, climate, and productions ? 
What of the forests What of FredericktonSt. John’s ? St. Andrew’s ? 










NOYA SCOTIA.—PRINCE EDWARD.—NEWFOUNDLAND. 99 


NOVA SCOTIA. 

Nova Scotia is a large peninsula connected with New Bruns¬ 
wick by an isthmus only nine miles broad. 

The winter in Nova Scotia is cold and long-, and the spring foggy, 
but at other seasons the climate is pleasant, and always healthy. 

The soil varies much in fertility. Along the coast the land is gene¬ 
rally rocky and barren, but in the interior a great portion is fertile. 
Wheat, rye, and other kinds of grain are the chief agricultural pro- 
| ductions. 

The fisheries are actively prosecuted along the coast, and the timber 
i trade is very important. Fish, timber, provisions, coal, and gypsum 
I are the principal articles of exportation. 

The island of Cape Breton is politically attached to Nova Scotia, 
| and sends two members to the assembly of that government. 

Halifax, the capital, has one of the finest harbours in the world, and the 
i most extensive dockyard in British America has been formed there. Lunen- 
berg, Liverpool, and Pictou are the other important towns. 

Map of North America .—What bay nearly separates Nova Scotia 
I from New Brunswick? Where is Halifax? Louisburg? Cape Sable? 


PRINCE EDWARD’S ISLAND. 

Prince Edward’s, formerly called St. John’s, is a fine island, 
135 miles long and 34 miles broad, separated from Nova Scotia 
by a channel ten or fifteen miles wide. 

This island has shorter winters, and a milder and more pleasant cli¬ 
mate, than the adjoining coasts. 

The soil of this island is fertile, and well adapted for raising wheat 
and oats, of which it affords a good supply. 

The inhabitants are extensively engaged in the fisheries and the 
timber trade. 

Charlottetown, the capital, has an excellent harbour, on Hillsboro Bay. 

Map of North America .—In what gulf is Prince Edward’s Island ? 
What course from Nova Scotia? From New Brunswick? From 
Newfoundland? • 

0 9 * 

NEWFOUNDLAND. 

Newfoundland is a large island, 420 miles long and 300 
miles broad, situated at the mouth ol the river St. Lawrence, 
and forming the most eastern part of North America. 

What is Nova Scotia ? What of the climate ? Soil and productions ? 
Fisheries ? What of the island of Cape Breton ? Halifax ? 

What is the extent and situation of Prince Edward’s Island ? What of the 
climate ? Soil and productions ? How are the inhabitants engaged ? What 
of Charlottetown ? 

What is Newfoundland i What is the aspect of the island ( From what 




100 ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

The aspect of this island is rugged and uninviting, and instead of 
forests, presents only stunted trees and shrubs. 

The chief prosperity of Newfoundland is derived from the cod fishery 
on its shores, the banks there being much more productive than any 
other part of the world. 

The climate is cold and dreary, and the banks are frequently en¬ 
veloped in very dense fogs from April to December. 

The uninhabited island of Anticosti, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
and the coast of Labrador, are dependencies on Newfoundland. Near 
the southern coast are the little islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, be¬ 
longing to France, and occupied by fishermen. 

St. John’s, the capital, is little more than a large fishing station, the whole 
shore being lined with wharfs and stages. The harbour is safe, and defended 
by several fortresses. 


Map of North America .—What strait separates Newfoundland from 
Labrador 1 Where Is the island of Anticosti 1 Where is White Bay % 
Bonavista ? Cape Race 1 On what part of the island is St. John’s 1 


NORTHERN REGIONS OF BRITISH AMERICA. 

The Northern Regions of America include that portion of 
the continent claimed by Great Britain which lies north of Ca¬ 
nada and the territory claimed by the United States. 

The climate of this dreary region is very bleak, and chilled beneath 
the influence of an Arctic sky. 

Labrador, the most easterly portion, includes a vast territory between 
the Atlantic Ocean and Hudson’s Bay, inhabited only by Indians, with 
the exception of some missionary stations along the coast, the principal 
of which is at Nain. 

The country southwest of Hudson’s Bay and north of Canada is 
usually called New North Wales. It is a swampy region, but con¬ 
tains some good land, on which settlements may hereafter be formed. 

The western coast of Hudson’s Bay contains nearly all the English 
settlements north of Canada. The principal of these are York Fort, 
Churchhill Fort, and Albany Fort. The trade 
consists entirely in skins and furs, which 
possess great rvalue, and for procuring which 
agents are "Seat in every direction. 

The musk ox [Fig. 69] is a very singular 
animal, which derives its name from its flesh, 
which, in a lean state, smells strongly of that 
substance. It inhabits the extreme northern 
part of this region. It is a small animal, 
weighing only two or three hundred weight. 

Musk Ox, Fig. 69. 

is its prosperity derived ? What of the climate ? What dependencies ? 
What of St. John’s ? 

W hat do the northern regions of America include ? What of the climate ? 
What of Labrador ? The country southwest of Hudson’s Bay ? Where are 





RUSSIAN POSSESSIONS. 


101 


The pine martin [Fig. 70] does not differ 
from that of Europe, but is distinguished for 
the superior beauty and fineness of its fur, 
which is highly valued. 

The regions extending to the north are 
scarcely known, except in lines traced by 
exploring expeditions. The native inhabit¬ 
ants are wandering tribes of Esquimaux and 
other Indians. 

Rivers and lakes abound in this vast re- Pine Martin, Fig. 70. 
gion, which, even in its most level tracts, is 
covered with extensive forests, and subject to little evaporation. 


Map of North America .—Can you describe McKenzie’s River ? Peace 
River? Elk River? Saskashawan? Assiniboine? Nelson River? Severn 
River? Albany River? Where is Slave Lake? Athapescow Lake? 
Wollaston Lake ? Lake Winnipec ? Chesterfield Inlet ? Franklin Bay ? 
Hearne’s Bay? Regent’s Inlet? James’ Bay? What capes on the 
coast of Hudson’s Bay ? On the east coast of Labrador ? 



RUSSIAN POSSESSIONS. 


The northwest angle of America, beyond the 141st degree of 
west longitude, with a narrow strip, thirty miles wide, extend¬ 
ing southwest along the coast to tne boundary of the United 
States, belongs to Russia. 

The Russians have formed fishing stations at several places 
along the coast of this dreary region, and they also procure from 
it a large quantity of valuable furs, which are the principal 
article of trade. 


This portion of the 
continent, as well as 
the numerous islands 
near the coast, are in¬ 
habited by a number 
of savage tribes. 

The Aleutian Islands 
are inhabited by a mild 
race of savages, who 
live in villages under 
ground, [Fig. 71,] 
which are divided into 
different apartments, 
and often contain more 
than a hundred inha¬ 
bitants. 



Aleutian Village, Fig. 71. 


the principal English settlements ? What of the musk ox ? Pine martin ? 
What inhabitants ? What of rivers and lakes ? 

What part of America belongs to Russia ? What of the Russian settle¬ 
ments ? What inhabitants ? What of die Aleutian Islands ? What mountains ? 









102 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


From the peninsula of Alaska towards the south, the sea coast hears 
in general a oold and awful aspect, and Mount St. Elias rises to the 
height of 17,000 feet, which, with Mount Fairweather, only 2000 feet 
lower, forms the most elevated peaks in the northern part of America. 


Map of North America .—What part of North America extends far¬ 
thest west! Where is Cook’s Inlet] Prince William’s Sound] Cape 
Newnham] Cape Prince of Wales I Kotzebue’s Sound 1 Icy Cape I 
Point Beechy I Point Manning I 


TEXAS. 

Texas, now an independent state, includes the province of 
that name formerly belonging to the Mexican republic. 

The coast is a low sandy shore, with few inlets or harbours, but 
containing several large shallow lagoons or bays, of which the principal 
are Galvezton, Matagorda, and Espiritu Santo. These bays receive 
all the principal rivers except the Brasos. 

In the southwest the country is mountainous, but in the west and 
north are vast prairies which contain immense herds of buffaloes. 

The climate of Texas is mild, healthy, and agreeable, and the soil 
highly productive, yielding cotton, sugar, tobacco, Indian com, and 
wheat. 

In 1836 the people of Texas declared themselves independ¬ 
ent, and after many bloody battles, in the last of which the Mexi¬ 
can president was defeated and taken prisoner, the Mexicans 
were compelled to abandon the country. 

The principal towns are Bexar, Goliad, Matagorda, Brazoria, and Nacog¬ 
doches. 


Map of the U. S. and N. A .—What great river on the north of Texas ? 
Can you describe the Trinidad River] Brasos] Colorado] St. 
Marco] Gaudaloupe] Neuces] Where is Nacogdoches] San 
Felipe] Bexar] Goliad] Brazoria] 


MEXICO. 

Mexico is a very extensive country, including that part of 
North America which lies south of the United States. 

The surface of Mexico is elevated, forming part of that vast 
ridge which runs along the whole continent in the south, called 
the Andes, and in the north the Rocky Mountains. 

In Mexico the chain presents a broad table land, elevated from 6000 

What does Texas include ? What are the general features of the coast? 
Of the other parts of the country ? What of the climate ? What of the in¬ 
dependence ? Which are the principal towns ? 

What does Mexico include ? What of the surface ? Tableland? What 






MEXICO. 


103 




j to 8000 feet. This table land is not between ridges, but is the very 
highest part of the ridge itself. 

In the course of this chain, detached mountains occur, whose 
summits rise into the re¬ 
gions of perpetual snow, 
j Of these the volcanic 
peaks of Popocatapetl, 

[Fig. 72,] Orizava, and 
Toluca are the most 
noted. 

The fertility of this 
table land varies with its 
elevation. The summit 
is void of vegetation and 
abounds with salt, but 
at a lower elevation, 
and especially along the Popocatapetl, Fig. 72. 

coast, vegetation is of 
the most luxuriant description. 

On the Gulf of Mexico there is no good harbour, and the beautiful 
ports of Acapulco and Guyamas on the western coast, for several 
months in the year, are almost unapproachable on account of tempests. 

The rivers in the southern part of Mexico are mere torrents which 
rush down from the table land, forming numerous cascades and cata¬ 
racts, among which the cascade of Regia is most noted. The Rio Bra¬ 
vo, Buenaventura, and Colorado are large rivers in the northern parts. 

The lakes of Mexico are numerous, Ifut small; the largest is Lake 
Chapala, which contains 1300 square miles. 

Mexico, on account of its geographical position, and the peculiar 
situation of its table land and mountains, presents almost every kind 
of climate. 

The productions, therefore, are various, and there is scarcely a plant 
existing on the face of the earth which could not be cultivated in some 
part of Mexico. 

The plant, [Fig. 73,] which nourishes the 
valuable cochineal insect, is a native of Mexi¬ 
co, and was cultivated, on account of the pre¬ 
cious dye which the insect affords, long be¬ 
fore the Spaniards visited this country. 

The true jalap, the well known medicine, 
is the root of a plant which grows in shady 
situations, among the woods and on the 
slopes of the mountains. 

The dahlias, whose many-coloured blos¬ 
soms are so splendid and universally ad¬ 
mired, are natives of the cool and hilly parts Cochineal Plant, Fig. 73. 
of Mexico. 


detached mountain peaks ? What of its fertility ? The harbours of Mexico ? 
Rivers ? Lakes ? Climate ? Productions ? What of the cochineal plant ? 
Jalap ? Dahlias ? Animals ? Birds ? What of Mexico before the arrival 





104 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The native animals of Mexico are not numerous. 
The lynx, porcupine, monkeys, and tiger cat, with 
some species of deer and antelopes which are found 
on the table land, are those best known. The bison 
and wild horses, in immense herds, are found in the 
northern part. 

The birds are very numerous, and many of the 
species are peculiar to the country. Among the 
wading birds is the beautiful Mexican bittern, [Fig. 
74.] 

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Mexico 
Mexican Bittern, f orme( j the most powerful and populous empire 
in the western world, which was overthrown 
by Cortez at the head of a few daring adventurers, whom the 
possession of fire-arms rendered invincible. 

After having been subject to Spain for three centuries, Mexi¬ 
co has maintained her independence since 1822, though often 
disturbed by internal dissensions. 

In 1824 the Mexicans adopted a form of government closely 
resembling that of the United States, but its administration has 
not always corresponded with constitutional provisions. 

The Mexican republic consists of nineteen states, four terri¬ 
tories, and a federal district, each with a local government, 
while the foreign and general interests of the country are con¬ 
fided to the president and general congress. 

The mines are the grand objects which have connected the idea of 
unbounded wealth ana romantic splendour with the name of Mexico. 
Since the Spanish concjuest, Mexico has produced more silver than all 
the rest of the world united. 

There are more than three thousand silver mines in Mexico, though 
but a small portion of that number are now productive. 

The manufactures of Mexico are in a very rude state, and are chiefly 
confined to red earthenware, and coarse woollen and cotton goods. 

The commerce of Mexico does not correspond with its great fame for 
wealth. The precious metals form the principal article of exportation, 
to which mny be added flour, sugar, indigo, vanilla, sarsaparilla, log¬ 
wood, and pimento. The imports consist chiefly of manufactured goods. 

The roads of Mexico are tolerable, so far as they extend along the 
level surface of the high table land, but the deep declivities to the sea 
coast, till lately, were impassable to any kind of carnage. A road for 
carriages is now constructed from Mexico to Yera Cruz and Acapulco. 

There are four classes of society in Mexico, which are more distinct, 
and almost more alien to each other than though they were a foreign 
people. They are the native Spaniards, Spaniards born in America, 
the mixed classes, and the Indians. 

of the Spaniards ? IIow long was it subject to Spain ? What then ? What 
occurred in 1824? How many states in the Mexican Republic ? What of 
the mines ? How many silver mines ? What of the manufactures ? Com¬ 
merce ? Roads ? How many classes of society ? What of the native Spa- 



MEXICO. 


105 


The native Spaniards have been nearly all expelled from the country. 
The Creoles, or Spaniards born in America, are fond of splendour, and 
delight to ride on horses gayly caparisoned. The entire number of 
those denominated whites, in Mexico, is about one and a half million, 
but very few are free from a mixture of Indian blood. 

The Indians, descendants of the original possessors of Mexico, still 
survive to the number of four millions. They bear the general fea¬ 
tures of the other American Indians. 

The mixed races amount to two and a half millions, and are de¬ 
scended from a mixture of whites, negroes, and Indians in different 
shades. 

The Catholic religion, as in the other Spanish American states, is 
established by law, and no other is tolerated. 

The churches in Mexico, Puebla, and other large cities, are of sur¬ 
passing splendour, and the blaze of gold, silver, and ornaments ex¬ 
ceeds what is displayed in the richest shrines of Europe. 



Mexico, Fig. 75. 


Mexico, the capital, though not now the most populous city in America, is, 
beyond dispute, the most splendid. The architecture is of a very pure sty le, 
and the palace of the late viceroys, the cathedral, several convents, and private 
palaces are of great extent and magnificence. Population, 200,000. 

From the surrounding heights the city appears as if washed by the waters 
of the lake Tezcuco, which, with numerous villages and hamlets, form a 
striking contrast with the naked mountains in the distance, among which is 
the volcano of Popocatapetl, burning occasionally, and throwing up smoke 
and ashes in the midst of eternal snow. 

The streets are handsomely paved, lighted, and cleansed, and the markets 
are well supplied with animal and vegetable productions, brought by canoes 
along the lake Chalca and the canal leading to it. Most of the flowers and 
roots are raised on gardens made of reeds covered with earth, and floating in 
the lake. 

niards and Creoles ? Native Indians ? Mixed Races ? What of the religion ? 
Churches ! What of Mexico i Its appearanceStreetsMarkets l What 

5* 






















106 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Puebla is a large and handsome city. In the splendour of the churches, and 
the richness of their endowments, Puebla must take the first rank in the Cliris- 
tian world. Population, 90,000. 

The cathedral of Puebla is a vast pile, with little external ornament, but 
the interior is rich beyond description in ornaments of gold, silver, and pre¬ 
cious stones. 

Vera Cruz, [Fig. 76,] in 
which centres almost all 
the foreign trade of Mexi¬ 
co, is handsomely built, but 
there is no good water, 
and the climate is one of 
the most unhealthy in the 
world. Population, 7000. 

Queretaro, is one of the 
most beautiful, as well as 
one of the most wealthy 
cities of Mexico. Its aque¬ 
duct, about ten miles in 
length, with its bold and 
Vera Cruz, Fig. 76. lofty arches, with its splen¬ 

did churches and convents, 

give the city an air of great magnificence. Population, 40,000. 

Guanaxuato, situated in the midst of a rich mining district, is built on very 
uneven ground, but the buildings are in general handsome, and some of the 
churches are very fine. Population, 60,000. 

Guadalaxara is regularly laid out, having wide straight streets, and nume¬ 
rous public squares, with many handsome churches and convents. The silver 
mines of Bolanas, near it, are amongst the richest in Mexico. Population, 
.70,000. 

Zacatecas is famous for the silver mines in its neighbourhood, of which the 
mine of Pavellon is the most productive in the world. The mint of Zacatecas 
is second only to that of Mexico. Population, 33,000. 

St. Louis Potosi is a neat, well built town, containing many handsome 
churches and convents, with some of the richest silver mines in Mexico, in 
its neighbourhood. Population, 50,000. 

Cholula is famous for its pyramid, a work of art which, next to the pyra¬ 
mids of Egypt, approaches nearest in magnitude and vastness to those of na¬ 
ture. The pyramid of Cholula is 172 feet high, and each of its sides is 1335 
feet in length. Population, 6000. 

Oajaca, with a population of 40,000, Valladolid, 25,000, Durango, 25,000, 
Monterey, 12,000, and Chihuahua, 15,000, are the other principal cities. 

Map of North America. —How is Mexico bounded? What great 
chain of mountains extends through the middle of Mexico? Which 
are the principal rivers ? Can you describe the Rio del Norte ? Hia- 
qui? Gila? Colorado? Buenaventura? Zimpanogos? Mongos? 
What great gulf on the western part ? Where is the Gulf of Cali¬ 
fornia ? Which of the Mexican states are bounded by the Gulf of 
Mexico ? Which by the Pacific Ocean ? Which in the interior ? 

of Puebla ? The cathedral ? What of Vera Cruz ? Queretara ? Gua- 
uaxuato ? Guadalaxara ? Zacatecas ? St. Louis Potosi ? Cholula ? What 
v other cities ? 












GUATIMALA. 


107 

V hat city is the capital of Mexico ? Where is the city of Mexico 
situated! Puebla? Oajaca? Valladolid? Queretaro? Guanaxuata? 
Guadalaxara ? Zacatecas ? Durango ? Monterey ? Chihuahua ? 


GUATIMALA. 

The republic of Guatemala occupies the narrow tract between 
North and South America, and on that account has assumed the 
title of the United States of Central America. 

The mountains of Guatimala are of no great elevation, except 
in the northwest part, where they become much higher, and con¬ 
tain numerous volcanoes. 

The numerous rivers which descend from the Andes of Gua¬ 
timala, fall into one or the other of the opposite oceans, but 
there is one lake, that of Nicaragua, which is 150 miles in 
length, and 60 in breadth, out of which the river St. Juan 
flows. 

Guatimala, when subject to Spain, was attached to Mexico, but 
when the Spanish power ceased in America, she erected herself into 
an independent republic. 

Guatimala produces, in different regions, all the varieties of fruit 
and grain peculiar to the tropical and temperate zones. Indigo, cacao, 
sugar, cotton, cochineal, mahogany, and dye woods are exported. 

Guatimala abounds in silver mines, and very fine sulphur is also 
found. 

From the examination of the country, it has been found that a canal 
can be made between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Nicaragua which 
would admit the largest vessels, and through that lake and "'the River 
St. Juan, form a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific 
Ocean. 

Both the river and Lake Nicaragua are deep and navigable by the 
largest vessels, and the length of canal required to reach the Pacific 
would be only fifteen or twenty miles. Such a canal, by opening a 
more direct communication with China and India, would cause a great 
revolution in the commercial world. 

The government of Guatimala is a federal republic, being modelled 
on that of the United States of North America. There are six states; 
Guatimala, San Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, be¬ 
sides the federal district of New Guatimala. 

The city of New GuATTOALA,the capital, is situated in the valley of Mixco, 
and is said to be exempt from earthquakes, which have several times laid old 
Guatimala in ruins. Population, 35,000. San Salvador, population, 12,000; 
San Leon, population 20,000, and Cartago, population 20,000, are the other 
principal cities. Omoa has a good harbour, and considerable trade. 

What does Guatimala occupy ? What of the mountains ? What of the 
rivers and lake p To what was Guatimala formerly attached p What is it 
now P What of its productions p What minerals ? What important canal 
could be made P What of the river and lake p W r hat is the form of govern¬ 
ment p What of the city of Guatimala p What other cities p 




108 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Map of North America .—How is Guatimala bounded ? What chain 
of mountains? What lake in the southern part ? Where is the Gulf 
of Amatique? Cape Honduras'? Cape Vare? River St. Juan? 
Where is Guatimala? Leon? Cartago ? Truxillo? Omoa? Vera 
Paz ? St. Miguel ? 


WEST INDIES. 

The West Indies consist of a number of fine and fertile 
islands, situated in the wide interval of sea between North and 
South America. 

Mountains of considerable elevation diversify these islands. 
The most elevated peaks are those of Cuba, Hayti, and Jamaica, 
which rise to more than 8000 feet above the level of the sea. 

The numerous streams which descend 
from the mountains are one cause of the 
great fertility of these islands; but their 
course is short, and they do not expand into 
lakes. 

The great fertility and splendour of the 
vegetation of the West Indies is the admira¬ 
tion of every traveller who visits them. 

The mahogany tree, [Fig. 77,1 the wood 
of which is so extensively used for various 
purposes, is a native of the West Indies, and 
furnishes one of the most valuable articles of 
trade. 

The papaw tree [Fig. 78] is chiefly cultivated for its fruit, though 
the juice has the wonderful property of making all kinds of meat to 
which it is applied very tender in a short time. 

The banana and plantain afford a great supply of excellent food, 
with little attention to their cultivation. 

The ripe fruit of the banana, [Fig-. 79,] when exposed to the sun, 
becomes dry, turns black, and smells like smoked ham, in which state 
it is very wholesome food. 


Papaw tree, Fig. 78. Banana, Fig. 79. 

What are the West Indies ? What mountains ? What makes them fertile ? 
What of the vegetation ? What of the mahogany tree ? Papaw tree ? Banana 





Mahogany tree. Fig 77. 



WEST INDIES. 


109 



Of the few native animals found in the West Indies, the agouti 
[Fig. 80] is the most curious. It is about the size of a hare, to 
which it has some resemblance. 

Pelicans, great white herons, flamingoes, and other well-known 
birds, frequent the salt-water marshes; while the snake-neck, or 
darter, [Fig. 81,] and a great variety of wading birds, are common 
in the fresh-water swamps. 


Agouti, Fig. 80. 


Snake-neck, Fig. 81. 


The Guana lizard, which is sometimes five feet long, is eaten by 
the natives, and the flesh is said to be very 
tender, white, and delicate. It is a very 
nimble animal, and is hunted with dogs. 

The green turtle, [Fig. 82,] so highly 
prized for its flesh, is very abundant. They 
come on shore in the night, when the fisher¬ 
men turn them on their backs, and collect n ^ on 

them at leisure. Green Turtle, F,g. 82. 

The political condition of the West Indies depends on the 
nations to which they are subject. In each of the islands which 
belong to Great Britain, the white inhabitants are represented 
in houses of assembly, and have a governor appointed by the 
king. 

The West Indies have enjoyed an uncommon share of wealth 
and prosperity, which has arisen from having supplied, almost 
exclusively, sugar, coffee, and other articles, the use of which 
has become general over the civilized world. 

The commerce of the West Indies is very extensive ; the principal 
articles of export are sugar, rum, molasses, coffee, cotton, cacao, 
pimento, ginger, castor oil, sarsaparilla, pepper, and mahogany. 

The imports consist of manufactured goods, salted provisions, and' 
lumber. Manufactures, even of the coarsest description, have scarcely 
an existence in the West Indies. 

The population of the West Indies consists of whites, free negroes, and 
slaves. The whites do not exceed one-sixth part of the whole population. 



and plantain ? What singular property of the banana ? What of the native 
animals ? Birds ? The Guana lizard r Green turtle ? What is the political 
condition of the West Indies ? What of their wealth and property? Com¬ 
merce? Imports? Population? To whom do they belong? 



110 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The West Indies belong to different European nations, except Hayti, which 
is an independent negro Republic. 


SPANISH WEST INDIES. 

Of all the immense possessions of Spain in America, the West India 
Islands, Cuba and Porto Rico, are all that remain. 

Cuba, the largest and finest of all the West India Islands, is about 
780 miles long, by 52 miles in mean breadth, being about equal in size 
to all the other islands put together. 

Cuba is traversed throughout its whole extent by a chain of moun¬ 
tains, whose highest peaks, Potrillo and Cobre, attain an elevation of 
more than 8500 feet, from which the plains beneath are copiously wa¬ 
tered, and rendered productive in the highest degree. 

The situation of Cuba, commanding the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico 
and the communication between North and South America, gives it a high 
commercial and political importance. 

Havana, the capital of Cuba, is one of the greatest and most flourishing 
cities in the New World. The harbour has a narrow entrance, strongly for¬ 
tified, and is capable of containing a thousand large vessels. 

The commerce of Havana is very extensive, and the arsenal and dockyard 
are also on a very large scale. The city presents a magnificent appearance 
from the sea. 

Matanzas, about sixty miles east of Havana, is now the second commercial 
town in Cuba. It is pleasantly situated, has a fine harbour, and is rapidly in¬ 
creasing in importance. 

Princippe, in the interior, and Santiago, once the capital of Cuba, on the 
eastern part of the island, are the other principal towns. 

Porto Rico is inferior to none of the other West India Islands in 
fertility and general importance. 

Porto Rico is traversed by a lofty mountain range which rises to the 
height of 4000 feet, on each side of which lie fertile, well-watered, and 
well-cultivated plains. 

St. Juan, the capital, is a large, well-built town on the north coast, with a 
deep, safe, and capacious harbour, strongly fortified. 


DANISH WEST INDIES. 

Three small islands of the West Indies belong to Denmark. St. 
Croix, or Santa Cruz, the principal one, lies south of the Virgin 
Islands, and is productive in proportion to its extent. 

St. Thomas, one of the Virgin Islands, is of little importance. St. John’s, 
also one of the Virgin Islands, is only noted for its excellent harbour. 

Which of the West Indies belong to Spain ? Can you describe Cuba ? What 
of its mountains ? Its situation ? What of Havana ? Its commerce ? What 
of Matanzas ? Princippe ? What of the island of Porto Rico ? Its mountains ? 
What of St. Juan ? 

How many of the West India Islands belong to Denmark? What of St. 
Croix ? St. Thomas ? St. John’s ? 




WEST INDIES. 


Ill 


SWEDISH WEST INDIES. 

St. Bartholomew’s, or St. Bart’s, a small island about fifty miles 
north of St. Christopher’s, belongs to Sweden, and is said to be fertile 
and well cultivated. 


DUTCH WEST INDIES. 

The Dutch West Indies are the small islands of St. Eustatia, Saba, 
and Curacoa. » 

St. Eustatia consists almost entirely of the sloping sides of one conical hill, 
terminating in a rocky summit. It is carefully cultivated, and abounds in 
tobacco. 

Saba is a pleasant island, twelve miles in circuit, but is destitute of a 
harbour. 

Curacoa is a larger island, not far from the coast of South America. Wil- 
liamstadt, the capital, has a fine harbour, and some trade. 

The Dutch participate with France in the small island of St. Martin’s, valu¬ 
able almost solely for its salt works. 


FRENCH W T EST INDIES. 

The French West Indies were once very important; but the large 
island of St. Domingo being lost to her, Martinico and Guadaloupe 
are now all that remain. 

Martinico has its surface generally broken into hillocks, and in the centre 
rise three lofty mountains, the streams descending from which copiously water 
the island. 

Fort Royal, the capital, is a well-built town, but the chief trade centres in 
St Pierre, which is the largest place in Martinico and in all French America. 

Guadaloupe consists, in fact, of two islands, called Basse-terre and Grand- 
terre, with a narrow channel between them. Basse-terre contains a lofty chain 
of rugged mountains, but is well watered and fruitful. Grand-terre is more 
flat, and labours under a deficiency of water. 

Basse-terre, on the part of the island bearing that name, ranks as the capital, 
but Point-a-Petre carries on nearly all the trade. 

The small islands, Marie-Galante, Saintes, and Deseado, are appendages of 
Guadaloupe, but of little importance. 

Which of the West Indies belong to Sweden ? What of St. Bart’s ? 

Which are the Dutch West Indies ? What of St. Eustatia ? Saba ? Cura¬ 
coa ? St. Martin’s ? 

Which are the French West Indies ? What of Martinico ? What towns ? 
What of Guadaloupe ? What towns ? What other small islands ? 




113 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


BRITISH WEST INDIES. 

The British islands, though not the most extensive, are the best 
cultivated, most wealthy and productive of the West Indies. 

Jamaica is the largest and most valuable of the British West Indies; 
and the lofty range of the Blue Mountains in the interior, covered with 
ancient and majestic forests, gives it a grand and varied aspect. 

From the Blue Mountains about a hundred rivers, or rather rills, dash 
down in numerous cascades, and, after a short course, reach the sea. 

Kingston is now the principal town of Jamaica, and is situated in a fine 
plain six miles in breadth, extending to the foot of the mountains, with a 
good harbour and an extensive commerce. 

Spanish Town is of little importance, except as being the seat of the legis¬ 
lature and the courts. 

Barbadoes, having no mountains in the centre, is deficient in streams 
of water, and, being farther out in the Atlantic, is more exposed to 
hurricanes. 

Bridgetown, the capital, is one of the gayest and handsomest towns, as 
well as one of the strongest military posts in the West Indies. 

St. Christopher’s, or St. Kitt’s, rises in the interior into the lofty peak of 
Mount Misery, but the plain along the sea surpasses in richness and beauty 
any other of these islands. Basse-terre is the capital. 

Antigua is deficient in water, on which account the crops often fail. Johns¬ 
town, the capital, is a place of considerable importance. 

The other Leeward Islands, besides St. Christopher’s and Antigua, are 
Montserrat, Nevis, Barbuda, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands. All the 
Leeward Islands have but one governor, who resides at Antigua. 

Montserrat is not fertile. Nevis is a fertile island, consisting of one coni¬ 
cal mountain, about twenty miles in circuit. Charlestown is the capital. 
Barbuda and Anguilla are small, and little cultivated. 

The Virgin Islands are the least productive among the West Indies. They 
are numerous; but Tortola, Anegada, and Virgin Gorda are the only ones 
which belong to the English. 

Dominica is a large island, with a mountainous and rugged surface. Seve¬ 
ral of the mountain summits contain volcanoes, which throw out burning 
sulphur. CharlottetOAvn is the capital. 

St. Vincent’s is elevated and rugged, and contains the only very active vol¬ 
cano in the West Indies. Morne Garou, the most elevated point, is nearly 
five thousand feet in height. Kingston is the capital. 

Grenada is a beautiful island, and St. George, the capital, has one of the 
finest harbours in the West Indies, which has been strongly fortified. 

Tobago is a small but beautiful island. Scarborough is its capital. 

St. Lucia is an important island, containing high peaks called'the Sugar 
Loaves. On the western side is Port Castries, or Carenage, with an excel¬ 
lent harbour. 

Trinidad is a fertile and important island, remarkable for its lake of 
asphaltum, three miles in circumference. Port Spain, the capital, has a 
good harbour, and is well fortified. 

Which are the British West Indies ? What of Jamaica ? The Blue moun¬ 
tains? What of Kingston ? Spanish Town? What of Barbadoes ? Bridge¬ 
town ? What of St. Christopher’s ? Antigua ? What other Leeward Islands ? 
What of Montserrat ? Virgin Islands ? Dominico ? St. Vincent’s ? Grenada ? 
Tobago ? St. Lucia ? Trinidad ? The Bahama Islands ? Their soil and pro- 


WEST INDIES. 


113 


The Lucayos, or Bahama Islands, are a very extensive and numerous 
group, comprising about 650 islands and islets, though only fourteen are of 
any considerable size. 

The soil of the Bahamas is not fertile, and cotton is the only article which 
has been cultivated to any considerable extent. 

Nassau, in the island of New Providence, is the seat of government for all 
the Bahama Islands. 

The Bermuda Islands, situated in the Atlantic, about 600 miles east of 
Carolina, though not among the West Indies, are usually described in con¬ 
nexion with them. 

The Bermuda Islands are about four hundred in number, but most of them 
are mere rocks, only eight of them possessing any real importance. The 
climate of these islands is peculiarly pleasant. 

St. George, the seat of government, on an island of the same name, is only 
a large village. 

Map of North America and Atlantic Ocean .—How are the West Indies 
situated with respect to North America I South America! The Gulf 
of Mexico ! The Carribbean Sea! Which is the largest of the West 
Indies ! Which the second ! Third 1 Fourth ! Where are the Bahama 
Islands ! The Bermudas ! On what island is Havana ! Matanzas ! 
St. Jago ! Kingston! Port au Prince! St. Domingo! 


HAYTI. 

Hayti, now an independent republic, is a very fine island, about 450 
miles in length and 110 in breadth. 

In the centre of the island rises the lofty mountain of Cibao, the 
highest peak of which reaches an elevation of 9000 feet. 

9 rhis mountain is covered nearly to its summit with noble forests, 
and from it descend numerous streams, which, uniting in four large 
rivers, bestow extreme fertility on the plains below. 

Besides sugai*, coffee, and cotton, mahogany, Campeachy wood, lignum- 
vite, Brazilletto, honey, wax, and fruits ax*e important articles of exportation. 

Hayti, also called Hispaniola and St. Domingo, was formerly divided be¬ 
tween the French and Spaniards. 

But in 1791 the negro slaves in the French part rose against their masters, 
and succeeded in expelling them from the island ; and in 1822 the Spaniards 
also were expelled, so that the whole island is now included in the Republic 
of Hayti. 

Port au Prince, the capital and chief seat of trade, has an excellent harbour, 
but the country around is marshy, and during summer very unhealthy. 

St. Domingo, the capital of the Spanish part of the island, presents the re¬ 
mains of a very handsome city, but has been long in a state of decay. 

dtictions ? The capital ? The Bermuda Islands ? How many of the Bermu¬ 
das ? What of St. George ? 

What of Hayti ? What mountains ? What advantage derived from it ? 
What important articles of exportation ? Between what nations was the 
island formerly divided? When were they expelled? What of Port au 
Prince ? St. Domingo ? 





114 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


SOUTH AMERICA. 


COLOMBIA. 

The surface of Colombia is of the most varied character, pre¬ 
senting mountains and plains in forms the most grand and awful 
on the face of the globe. 

Some of the highest peaks of the Andes are found in Colom¬ 
bia. Chimborazo, till lately believed to be the highest moun¬ 
tain on the globe, rises to the height of 21,440 feet above 

the level of the sea, 
and Pinchinca, Cota- 
paxi,and several other 
peaks, are nearly equal 
in elevation. 

Cotapaxi [Fig. 83] 
is the highest and one 
of the most tremendous 
volcanoes in the world. 
The flames have been 
seen to rise 3000 feet 
above the crater, and 
the noise has been 
heard to the distance 
of 600 miles. 

From it, and the other volcanoes in the Andes, many dreadful and 
destructive earthquakes have been produced, which have sometimes 
reduced the finest cities to a heap oi ruins. 

The Llanos or plains form an extensive portion of Colombia, com¬ 
mencing 1 where the mountains terminate, and reaching east and south 
to the river Orinoco. These immense plains, covered with dense 
forests or high grass, are very fertile, but the climate is unhealthy. 
The river Orinoco often overflows them to a great extent. 

Colombia was among the first of the Spanish American colonies to 
cast off its dependence on the mother country, but it was only after a 
bloody and long-continued war that its independence was secured. 

Colombia, though situated under the equator, comprises every variety 
of climate. The elevated, steep ridges of the Andes, whose tops are 
covered with snow, are separated by narrow burning valleys, which 
descend almost to the level of the sea, and the only temperate land 
consists of small plains which seem to hang on their sides. 

A traveller may quit in the morning the frozen tracts near the moun¬ 
tain top, and passing through fields of oats, barley and wheat, may 
walk in the evening among the plantations of sugar cane and banana. 

Wliat of the surface of Colombia ? What of the mountains ? Chimbo¬ 
razo ? Cotopaxi ? What of the earthquakes ? Can you describe the Llanos 
or plains ? What of the independence of Colombia ? What of the climate ? 
How may a traveller change the climate ? What of the productions ? Mine- 



Cotapaxi, Fig. 83. 





NEW GRENADA. 


115 

Grain, fruits of all kinds, sugar, coffee, cacao, cotton and tobacco, 
| are successfully cultivated, and the forests abound with the most va- 
| luable kinds of wood. The cinchona, or Peruvian bark, so valuable in 
medicine, is chiefly procured from the forests of Colombia. 

Mines of gold, silver, platina, copper, mercury, and precious stones, 
are found in various parts of the country, some of which are very pro¬ 
ductive. 

Commerce is very active, because a total absence of manufactures 
creates a great demand for foreign goods. The principal exports con¬ 
sist of sugar, coffee, cacao, and hides. The imports consist of manu¬ 
factured goods and salted provisions. 

Roads, in Colombia, are only tracks formed by the tread of successive tra¬ 
vellers, which, in many places, lead through the beds of torrents, or fissures 
| caused by earthquakes. Mules are used for travelling and the transportation 
of goods. 

The bridges [Fig. 84] 

! are of the most fragile 
> description; sometimes 
; only a rope is stretched 
across between distant 
! points, and a hammock 
j or basket made to run 
from one end to the other. 

Of the native tribes of 
j Colombia, the Caribbees 
j are the ruling people, 
j They inhabit the banks 
| of the Orinoco and its 
I branches, and are a very 
fierce, warlike people. 

Soon after the war of independence was closed, Venezuela and Quito re¬ 
nounced the connexion with New Grenada, and Colombia now contains three 
independent states, called New Grenada, Venezuela, and Equador. 


Map of South America .—How is Colombia bounded ? What great 
chain of mountains near the Pacific ocean 1 Where is the lake and 
gulf of Maracaibo 1 Gulf of Darien \ Bay of Panama ? 



NEW GRENADA. 

New Grenada, occupying the north and centre, is the most 
populous and powerful of the Colombian republics. 

New Grenada consists of ranges of vast mountains, with nar¬ 
row valleys, and presents, in the extreme, the abrupt transition 
between the most opposite soil and climate peculiar to this part 
of America. 


rals ? Commerce ? Roads ? Bridges ? Native tribes ? What three inde¬ 
pendent states now exist ? 

What of New Grenada ? Of what does New Grenada consist ? What of 










116 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Santa Fe de Borota, the capital, is situated on a table land fifty miles 
long and twenty-five broad, at an elevation of 8000 feet above the level of the 
sea. Population, 30,000. 

The city of Bogota is enclosed in a grand mountain circuit, and cliffs of a 
thousand feet high rise immediately above it. 

The streets and squares are open and spacious, but the houses have gene¬ 
rally a mean appearance, except the churches and convents, which are very 
splendid. 

The scenery of the plain of Bogota is marked by the most striking features, 
among which the fall of Tequendama and the natural bridge of Icononza are 
the most conspicuous. 

The fall of Tequendama is formed by the river Bogota, which pours its 
waters down a precipice six hundred feet high, and falls into an almost 
fathomless abyss below. 

The bridge of Icononza is a natural arch thrown across a chasm 360 feet 
deep, at the bottom of which flows a rapid torrent. The bridge is formed of 
three masses of rock thrown together by an earthquake, and is about fifty 
feet long by forty broad. 

Popayan, on the river Cauca, is a handsome city, with a delightful climate, 
though subject to violent tempests. It has considerable commerce, and is 
surrounded by a fertile country, containing numerous gold mines. 

Above the city of Popayan rises the volcano of Purace, which constantly 
emits flames, and a river constantly descends from its summit, on which there 
is a beautiful cataract called the Fall of Vinagre. 

Carthagena, the principal seaport of New Grenada, stands on a low sandy 
point at the mouth of the river Magdalena. It has some handsome churches 
and houses, but the city has a gloomy appearance. Population, 18,000. 


Map of South America .—How is New Grenada bounded ? What is 
the capital 1 ? Can you describe the river Magdalena ? Cauca”? Ori¬ 
noco? Rio Negro? Where is Bogota ? Popayan? Carthagena? Tun- 
ja ? Medellin ? Mompox ? Panama ? Porto Bello ? Pasto ? 


EQUADOR. 

The Republic of Equador, formerly called Quito, is the 
finest country in America, and in soil and climate possesses a 
fertility almost equal to that which fable has ascribed to the 
golden age. 

The climate is that of perpetual spring, and the trees and 
meadows are crowned with continual verdure, so that the coun¬ 
try has been called the evergreen Quito. 

The traveller from other countries sees with astonishment the plough 
and the sickle at the same time in equal activity. 

In one place herbs are fading through age, and in another those of 


Santa Fe de Bogota ? What encircles it ? What of its general appearance ? 
What of the scenery of the plain of Bogota ? Can you describe the natural 
bridge of Icononza ? What of Popayan ? What natural curiosities near it ? 
What of Carthagena ? 

What are the general features of Equador ? What of the climate ? What 
does the traveller see ? Wlmt of vegetation ? What of Quito ? Its publio 




VENEZUELA. 


117 


the same species are just beginning to bud,—one flower drooping, and 
I another unfolding its beauties to the sun. 

Quito, the capital, on the side of Pinchinca, more than 9000 feet above the 
sea, is one of the largest and finest cities in South America. Population, 
70,000. 

The churches and con¬ 
vents are built with great 
magnificence, and there are 
two universities, which are 
well attended and careful¬ 
ly conducted. Quito is 
I called the Athens of South 
America. 

But the feature which 
I renders Quito the most 
remarkable is, that above 
the beautiful valley on 
which it stands rise Pin¬ 
chinca, [Fig. 85,] and all 
the other loftiest volcanic 
cones of the Andes. 

Guayaquil, on the bay of the same name, is one of the most flourishing 
commercial cities in South America. This city is well built, and ship¬ 
building is carried on to a considerable extent. Population, 20,000. 

About five hundred miles west of the coast is the fine group of the 
I Gallipagos Islands, remarkable for the number of huge land tortoises 
found on them. 

These islands enjoy a fine climate and a fertile soil, and have re¬ 
cently been occupied by a colony from Guayaquil. 


Map of South America .—How is Equador bounded ] Can you de¬ 
scribe the river Amazon ] What rivers of Equador flow into the Ama¬ 
zon ] Where is Quito ] What direction is Chimborazo from Quito I 
Where is Guayaquil] Riobamba] Cuenca? Loxa] Ybarra] What 
other towns ? 



VENEZUELA. 

While New Grenada and Equador consist of the lofty moun¬ 
tains and deep valleys of the Andes, Venezuela, unlike them, 
forms a plain of great extent, reaching beyond the Orinoco. 

The part of Venezuela east of the Orinoco is covered with 
dense forests, and occupied only by the Caribs and other savage 
tribes, who roam from place to place, and wage almost continual 
war with each other. 

The Llanos, or immense plains, covered with the most luxuriant 
pastures, form an extensive portion of Venezuela. On these plains 

buildings ? What remarkable natural feature near it ? What of Guayaquil ? 
The Gallipagos Islands ? Their character ? 

Of what does Venezuela consist ? What of the country east of the Orinoco ? 













118 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


immense herds of cattle, horses, and mules are fed, whose hides are 
thepnncipal article of commerce. 

The coast of Venezuela, for about six hundred miles east of New 
Grenada, includes all that exhibits any degree of cultivation or trade. 

Caraccas, the capital of Venezuela, is finely situated in a valley between 
the sea and the lofty mountain of Scilla, whose two peaks rise to the height 
of nearly 9000 feet. It has a spacious cathedral, and a university on a large 
scale. Population, 25,000. 

Caraccas was visited, on the 26th of March, 1812, with one of the most 
dreadful earthquakes on record, which destroyed a great part of the city, and 
buried 10,000 of the inhabitants in its ruins. 

La Guayra, on the coast, about twelve miles from Caraccas, of which it is 
the port, notwithstanding its bad harbour and sickly climate, is the seat of a 
very considerable trade. Population, 5000. 


Map of South America .—What lake and gulf in the northwest part 1 
Can you describe the river Orinoco 1 What rivers empty into the Ori¬ 
noco] Where is Caraccas, the capital ] Cumana] Merida] Trux- 
illo] Valencia] La Guayra] Barcelona] What towns on the Orinoco] 


PERU. 

Peru, of all the countries of South America, has been the 
most celebrated for its wealth and ancient civilization. 

Peru is crossed, and in a great measure covered by the Andes - 
and the surface of the country, therefore, is of the boldest and 
most varied description. 

Along the western coast of Peru the country is almost a desert, in¬ 
tersected only by a few fertile valleys. 

From the perpetual spring which prevails in these valleys, vegetation 
is most luxuriant, and almost every cultivated plant, from barley to 
rice and sugar cane, comes to perfection. The climate admits of 
planting and sowing every day in the year. 

The traveller on entering one of these valleys is surprised by the 
change from the sterility of the desert to the bright verdure which pre¬ 
vails where streams of water are met with. 

On the western side of the Andes the climate is temperate, 
the rivers small and few, the hills bare of wood, wild animals 
are rare, there are few birds, and no noxious reptiles. 

But on the east of the Andes we find wild animals, and 
venomous reptiles abound, birds with splendid plumage inhabit 
the trees, and alligators and tortoises are found in the Amazon 
and its tributary streams. 


The Llanos, or plains ? The coast ? What of Caraccas ? What nearly de¬ 
stroyed it ? What of La Guayra ? 

What is said of Peru ? What of the Andes ? What is the character of 
the western coast ? What of the climate and productions of the valleys ? 
What general cliaracter west of the Andes ? East of the Andes ? What of 




PERU. 


119 


Some of the most interesting 1 plants and 
animals are natives of Peru, ana this may be 
considered the native country of the pota¬ 
to, that valuable and widely diffused plant, 

< which here grows wild. 

The lama [Fig. 86] is also chiefly found 
in Peru, and resembles a very small camel. 

It is a graceful and even beautiful animal in 
! its appearance, and is trained to carry bur- 
i dens. 

The vicunia resembles the lama, but is 
! smaller, and is celebrated for the superior Lama, Fig. 86. 

! fineness of its wool. 

The condor [Fig. 87] is the largest bird 
! of flight, and is found only on the Andes, 
where it seems to prefer the highest points, 
bordering on the limits of perpetual snow. 

' It belongs to the vulture tribe, weighs about 
eighty pounds, and when the wings are ex¬ 
panded, measures fifteen or twenty feet across 
| the wings. 

Peru, when first discovered by the 
Spaniards, was inhabited by a race of 
Indians much more civilized than any of Condor, Fig. 87. 

' the other nations of South America. The sway of the Inca or 
Peruvian monarch, extended over this country 2000 miles in 
length. 

Peru was formerly the most celebrated and valuable of the 
Spanish American provinces, but its independence was secured 
by the battle of Ayachuco, on the 9th of March, 1824, though the 
country has been frequently distracted by internal commotions. 

Agriculture is not the branch of industry on w hich the w r ealth of 
Peru rests. Indian corn is the staple production, and forms the chief 
food of the natives. The sugar cane is cultivated with success, and 
the fruits of almost every climate, from the slopes of the Andes, are 
poured dow r n into the markets of Lima. 

The manufactures of Peru consist only of coarse cloths, and par¬ 
ticularly ponchos or riding cloaks, which are universally worn through¬ 
out Spanish America. 

The mines have been the source of the unrivalled wealth of Peru. 
The mines of gold, silver and mercury are numerous, [chiefly seated 
in the inmost recesses of the Andes, and approachable only by steep 
and perilous passes. 

The silver mine of Potosi has no equal in the world. It rises to the 
height of 16,000 feet, is eighteen miles in circumference, forming one 
mass of ore, and though one thousand, six hundred millions of dollars 

the plants and animals ? What of the lama ? The vicunia ? The condor ? 
Who inhabited Peru when first discovered ? What of the value and inde¬ 
pendence of Peru } What of the agriculture ? Manufactures ? Mines ? 






120 ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

have been drawn from it, a small portion of its surface only has been 
worked. 

The commerce of Peru consists almost entirely in the exchange of 
the produce of the mines for foreign manufactures, of which immense 
quantities are imported. 

The roads in Peru, as in most other countries of South America, consist 
only of the foot tracks of the horses, or more frequently mules, by which they 
are trod, and no carriage is attempted to be driven. 

The Peruvian Spaniards are a very effeminate people, but are generally 
humane, hospitable, and courteous in their manners. 

The Indians, or native Peruvians, are still the most numerous class over all 
Peru, but are destitute of that fierce character which rendered the Caribs, 
Brazilians, and North American Indians, so terrible to European settlers. 

Peru, after its liberation from Spanish dominion, was formed into two 
separate republics, one consisting of Lower Peru, considered now as Peru 
proper, and the other of Upper Peru, or Bolivia. 


Map of South America .—What great range of mountains near the 
coast 1 What rivers ! What lake ? 


REPUBLIC OF PERU. 

The Republic of Peru comprises the north part of the an¬ 
cient country of that name, being that portion which was for¬ 
merly included in the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru. 

Lima, the capital of Peru, and, next to Mexico, the most splendid city of 
Spanish America, is situated about six miles in the interior from its port of 
Callao. Population, 100,000. 

The city is nearly of a semicircular form, two miles long, and one mile and 
a half broad, surrounded by a wall twelve feet high, the base of which is 
washed by the river Limac. 

Truxilio, on the coast, to the north of Lima, is a handsome little town, 
around which there is a very extensive and productive plain. Population, 
12 , 000 . 

Arequipa is a large city in the interior, with an agreeable and healthy cli¬ 
mate, with silver mines in its neighbourhood, and surrounded by one of the 
most fertile provinces in Peru. Population, 24,000. 

Caxamarca is distinguished for having contained a palace of the ancient 
Incas, and being the spot where Atahualpa, the last of them, fell by the sword 
of Pizarro. Population, 7000. 

Cuzco, the grand seat of the ancient empire of Peru, is placed upon a knot 
of the loftiest Andes, the summits of which are enveloped in eternal snow. 
Population, 32,000. On an eminence near Cuzco are the walls of the fortress 
of the Incas, raised to a great height, and built of astonishing masses of 
stone. 


Map of South America* —How is Peru bounded! Can you describe 
the Maranon River ! The Gualaga! The U cay ale ! Beni! Where 

Silver mine of Potosi ? Commerce ? Roads ? Peruvian Spaniards ? Indians ? 
What two republics included in Peru ? 

What does die Republic of Peru comprise ? What of Lima ? What is 
its form and size ? What of Truxilio ? Arequipa? Caxamarca? Cuzco? 




BOLIVIA.—CHIU. 


121 


is Lima, the capital? Cuzco? Guamanga? Arequipa? Truxillo? 
Asanga ? What other places on the coast ? 


BOLIVIA. 

TheR epublic of Bolivia forms an extensive territory situ¬ 
ated south, and somewhat east of Peru, to which it assimilates 
in aspect and productions. 

It has now been ascertained that Bolivia contains the loftiest 
mountain peaks in America, the summit of Sorato being 
25,400 feet, and that of Illimani 24,350 feet high. 

Chuq.uisaca, called also La Plata, is the capital of Bolivia. It is a handsome 
city, containing about 12,000 inhabitants, with a university numerously attend¬ 
ed, which has one of the best libraries in South America. 

La Paz, which has a population of 40,000, is really the chief city of Boli¬ 
via, and is surrounded by the most interesting objects in that country. A few 
miles to the south is the Mount I limani, and at some distance to the north 
rises that of Sorato, already mentioned as the highest mountains in the new 
world. 

At some distance to the northwest of La Paz is the great lake of Titicaca, 
about 150 miles long, and the largest in South America. 

Potosi, which enjoys the greatest fame of any city in this region, retains but 
few traces of its former wealth. It is situated 13,000 feet above the sea, and 
consequently higher than the Peak of Tenerifte. It has greatly declined from 
its former magnificence, and now contains only 9000 inhabitants. 

Oruro, once celebrated for its mines, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Port 
le Mar, the only seaport, are the other important cities. 


Map of South America .—How is Bolivia bounded ? Can you de¬ 
scribe the river Beni ? Branco ? Madeira ? Paraguay ? Pilcoma- 
yo ? Where is Mt. Illimani ? Mt. Sorato ? Lake Titicaca ? Where 
is Chuquisaca, the capital ? La Paz ? Potosi? Port le Mar? St. 
Cruz ? Conceicao ? Tarija ? What other towns ? 


CHILL 

Chili, which has been called the Italy of South America, is 
a long narrow country between the Andes and Pacific Ocean, 
extending from the desert of Atacama to the southern extremity 
of the continent. 

The range of the Chilian Andes is very massive and un¬ 
broken, and the perpetual snow which covers it, even at the 
points most easy of access, indicate a height of fourteen or fifteen 
thousand feet. 

The sides of the mountains are generally fertile and beautiful. Rich 

What of the Republic of Bolivia ? What noted mountains does it contain } 
What of Chuquisaca ? What mountains near it ? What of Lake Titicaca } 
What of Potosi ? What other important cities ? 

What of Chili ? What of the Chilian Andes ? What is the character of 

6 





122 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


pastures extend even to the border of perpetual snow, and many of 
these upper valleys present such romantic and enchanting scenes that 
Chili has been called the garden of South America. 

But it is a heavy misfortune to the Chilians that the ground is not 
secure under their feet. There are said to be fourteen active volcanoes 
within Chili, besides several that emit smoke, and repeated earth¬ 
quakes have laid their cities in ruins. 

There are no rivers in Chili deserving the name. Numerous tor¬ 
rents rush down the mountains, but with such rapidity that no boat can 
navigate their channel. 

The average duration of the rainy season is about five months, from 
May to October. In the south of Chili the rains are very heavy, but 
in the north the showers are few and light. 

Where the rains are copious, forests of lofty trees abound, the earth 
is covered with a profusion of plants, and produces large crops of grain. 

The Chili pine is almost confined to the country of the Auracanian 
Indians, who subsist on its seed, which they collect and bury in pits 
for winter use. 

The lama, vicunia, and paca are the principal native animals. The 
most celebrated bird is the condor, while another called the plant cutter 
Is singular from its bill being toothed like a saw, and used to cut down 
plants, that the bird may feed on the tender leaves. 

Chili, when first discovered by the Spaniards, was in possession of 
the most hardy and active race of Indians in America, and the Aura- 
canians have baffled all attempts to subdue them. 

The dominion of Spain was maintained over Chili till 1818, when 
the inhabitants declared themselves independent, and adopted a repub¬ 
lican form of government. 

Agriculture is carried on extensively, though with very rude imple¬ 
ments, of the same form with those that were introduced 300 years ago. 

Wheat has been the chief object of cultivation; its quality is fine, 
and there is a regular demand for it in Peru, Guayaquil, and other 
places. Potatoes and garden plants grow in perfection. Fruits, with 
very little culture, are produced in abundance and of excellent quality. 

The greatest extent of ground is laid out in cattle farms, which are 
managed with great success. The horses are small, but beautiful, and 
the oxen and mules are equal to any in the world. 

The manufactures consist only of coarse articles for domestic use, 
such as ponchos, hats, shoes, and coarse earthenware, 

Mining is the branch of industry for which Chili is the most cele¬ 
brated. The mines occur in the interior from Coquimbo, in a barren 
tract of the country. The metals are gold, silver, and copper, of which 
copper is the most abundant, there being many hundred mines of it. 

_ Commerce, in Chili, labours under great difficulties from its remote 
situation, being separated by about half the circumference of the globe 
from Europe, Asia, and even North America. The chief trade con- 

the mountains ? What of the volcanoes ? Are there any rivers ? What of 
the rainy season ? What of the productions i 5 The Chili pine ? Animals 
and birds ? When discovered by the Spaniards who inhabited the country ? 
When did the dominion of Spain cease ? What of the agriculture ? Wliat 
productions ? What of the cattle farms ? Manufactures? Mines ? Com- 


CHILI, 


123 


sists in the importation of manufactured goods and articles of domestic 
use, in exchange for the product of the mines. 

The Chilians, like the other inhabitants of Spanish America, are 
polite, kind, ignorant, fond of diversion, superstitious, and quarrelsome. 
The ladies often can neither read nor write, but have fine natural ta¬ 
lents and graceful manners. 

Santiago, the capital, is situated in a richly wooded plain, about ninety 
miles from the coast, and at an elevation of 2600 feet above the level of the 
sea, which renders the climate healthy and agreeable. Population, 50,000. 

The houses are only one or two stories high, and are built of unburnt brick. 
The streets are regularly laid out, and the cathedral, several of the churches, 
and director’s palace, are handsome buildings. 

Valparaiso, [Fig. 88,] 
the port of Santiago, and 
the main seat of Chilian 
commerce, is situated on 
a semicircular bay, over 
which, on all sides, is a 
steep cliff, nearly two 
thousand feet high. Popu¬ 
lation, 15,000. 

One street, about three 
miles long, contains the 
houses of the most opu¬ 
lent citizens, while the 
lower class are huddled 
into the ravines among 
the hills behind. 

During the summer, which lasts from November to March, the bay affords 
a safe and pleasant anchorage, but in winter, especially in June and July, the 
north wind often blows with dangerous violence. 

Coquimbo is important on account of the valuable mines in the province, 
the product of which is exported through this port; population, 10,000. Co- 
piapo, about fifty miles in the interior, in the midst of the mining district, of 
which it may be considered the capital, has been frequently destroyed by 
earthquakes. 

Conception was formerly a flourishing city, but was entirely destroyed by 
an earthquake in 1835. Talcahuana, the port of Conception, has a fine har¬ 
bour. The town of Valdivia is situated about sixteen miles from the coast. 
The port on the coast has a fine harbour, well defended by batteries. Popu¬ 
lation, 3000. 

The island of Juan Fernandez may be considered an appendage to Chili. 
It is so diversified with lofty hills, streams, and varied vegetation, that it is 
considered one of the most enchanting spots on the globe. Mas-a-Fuero is 
also near it. 

Map of South America. —How is Chili bounded ? What great chain 
of mountains I What islands along the southern coast ? Where is 
Santiago, the capital? Valparaiso? Valdivia? Conception? Co¬ 
quimbo ? Copiapo ? What other places on the coast ? 

merce ? What is the character of the inhabitants ? What of Santiago ? 
The houses and streets ? What of Valparaiso ? What principal street ? 
What of the bay of Valparaiso ? What of Coquimbo ? Conception ? What 
of the island of Juan Fernandez ? Mas-a-Fuero ? 



Valparaiso, Fig. 88. 











124 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


LA PLATA. 


La Plata is an extensive region, watered by the river from 
which it derives its name, and occupying the southern extremity 
of South America, east of the Andes. 

A large portion of 
the surface of La Pla¬ 
ta consists of an im¬ 
mense plain, one of 
the most extensive 
and uniform on the 
face of the earth. The 
plain or Pampa, [Fig. 
89,] west of Buenos 
Ayres, is more than 
1000 miles across, and 
Travelling on the Pampas, Fig. 89. covered with luxuri¬ 

ant vegetation. 

The La Plata is one of the largest rivers on the globe. At 
Buenos Ayres it is thirty miles broad, and resembles an arm of 
the sea, though the water is fresh. 




Paraguay Tea Plant, 
Fig. 90. 



Jaguar, Fig. 91. 


The famous matte, or Paraguay tea, [Fig. 
90,] is an evergreen plant which grows as 
large as an orange tree. The leaves are pre¬ 
pared by slightly scorching them, and the use 
of the herb for tea is general in this and the 
adjoining countries. 

Many resins and gums are produced in this 
and the adjoining countries, among which is 
the gum elastic, or Indian rubber, also called 
caoutchouc. When the tree is pierced, a 
large quantity flows out and soon condenses, 
when it is drawn into strips or formed into a 
mass. 

The puma and jaguar [Fig. 91] are 
amongst the ferocious animals in this, as well 
as the other countries of South America. The 
touyou, or American ostrich, is a large bird, 
much resembling the ostrich of the old con¬ 
tinent. 

The cock-tail waterchat [Fig. 92] is re¬ 
markable for the structure of its tail, which 
is shaped like that of the cock. The bur¬ 
rowing owl lives in the ground, and hunts in 
the daytime. 


What is La Plata ? Of what does a large portion of its surface consist ? 
What of the river La Plata ? What of the matte ? What other productions ? 
What ferocious animals ? What of the touyou ? What other birds ? What 




LA PLATA. 


125 


La Plata was formerly one of the Spanish 
provinces, but declared itself independent in 
1816. It consists of several states, united 
into a federal republic, but the country has 
been in a very unsettled condition. 

The agricultural produce consists almost 
entirely m the herds of horses and horned 
cattle which run wild over the Pampas. The 
Gaucho, or farmer, has only to throw the 
lasso or long leathern noose over them, and 
kill or drive them away at his pleasure. Water-chat, Fig. 92. 

Wheat and barley, for which the soil is 
well adapted, are cultivated, but with little skill, and the quantity 
raised does not supply the wants of the country. 

Timber for fuel is scarce, and peach trees are extensively cultivated 
for firewood. The peaches are only used to feed hogs and poultry. 

The commerce is extensive, the country being dependent on foreign 
supplies for almost every article of goods and produce, for which cattle, 
hides, horns, hair, and tallow are given in payment. 

The Gauchos, who inhabit the Pampas, are a singular race of men. 
They will scour the country for whole days at full gallop, breaking 
wild horses, or in pursuit of the jaguar or ostrich, but once alighted, 
and seated on the skeleton of a horse’s head, nothing can induce them 
to move. 

The Indians of the Pampas are a savage and terrible race, between- 
whom and the Gauchos the most deadly hostility prevails. 




Buenos Ayres, Fig. 93. 

The city of Buenos Ayres, [Fig. 93,] on the south bank of the river La 
Plata, 200 miles above its mouth, is one of the finest cities of South America, 
and contains many handsome public and private buildings. Population, 70,000. 


was La Plata formerly, and what is it now ? What agricultural productions ? 
What kind of grain? What timber? What of the commerce? The 
Gauchos ? Indians ? What of Buenos Ayres ? Its condition and commerce ? 
















126 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


It is well fortified, and is the centre of nearly all the commerce of the coun¬ 
try, though large vessels cannot approach within ten or twelve miles, on ac¬ 
count of sandbars. 

Mendoza, near the foot of the Andes, is on the principal route from Buenos 
Ayres to Chili, over the mountains. Population, 20,000. 

The province of Mendoza is noted for its fertility, and for its wines and 
brandies, of which it supplies a considerable quantity to the adjacent countries. 

Cordova is a handsome town, noted for its university. Salta, on the road to 
Potosi, is fam us for its trade in mules. St. Juan and St. Louis are towns of 
some importance. Tucuman and St. Jago are old towns which derive some 
importance from being on the main route from Buenos Ayres to Peru. 

Patagonia, now claimed as one of the provinces of La Plata, 
is in f ill possession of a gigantic Indian race, all mounted on 
horseback, similar to those who desolate the Pampas. 

At the southern extremity of America is the dreary region of 
Terra del Fuego, a cluster of islands separated from the conti¬ 
nent by the Strait of Magellan. On the southern extremity 
of Terra del Fuego is the famous Cape Horn. 

The Indians who inhabit Terra del Fuego are a handful of 
miserable savages, who live solely on the snell-fish which they 
pick up on the shore. 


Map of South America. —How is La Plata bounded ? What great 
chain of mountains separates it from Chili I Can you describe the 
river La Plata ? Paraguay ? Parana ? Pilcomayo ? Grande River ? 
Salado I Dulce ? Salaaula ? Mendoza I Sanguel ? Pt. Desire River ? 
Where is Terra del Fuego? The Falkland Islands? The Strait of 
Magellan ? Cape Horn ? W'here is cape St. Antonio ? Peninsula 
de St. Joseph ? Cape Desvolos ? 

W'here is Buenos Ayres ? Mendoza? St. Juan? St. Louis? Cor¬ 
dova? Santa Fe? Santiago? Catamarca? Tucuman? Salta? 
What other towns ? 


PARAGUAY. 

Paraguay, between the I^a Plata and Parana, forms a very 
fine district, which has fallen under the absolute dominion of 
the dictator Francia. 

The most valuable production of Paraguay is the matte, of which 
large quantities might be exported, but the dictator permits no trade 
with any other country. 

Assumption, the capital of Paraguay, is a place of some : mportarxce, built 
on a bank above the river. Population, 7000. 

Map of South America .—How is Paraguay bounded ? Can you de¬ 
scribe the Paraguay River ? Parana ? Where is Assumption ? 

What of Me- doza ? The province of Mendoza ? What other towns ? What 
of Patagonia ? The islands at the southern extremity ? The Indians ? 

What does Paraguay form ? What valuable production ? What of As¬ 
sumption } 




MONTE VIDEO.—BRAZIL. 


127 


MONTE VIDEO. 

Monte Video formerly made a part of Buenos Ayres, under 
the name of Banda Oriental, but has recently been erected into 
an independent government, whose official title is the Oriental 
Republic of Uruguay. 

The city of Monte Video, on the north bank of the La Plata, is the capital, 
and has the best harbour on the river. It is well built, with wide and regu¬ 
lar streets, and the country around is agreeably diversified with hills and 
valleys. Population, 15,000. 

The gardens abound with fruits and flowers, but there is otherwise little 
cultivation, though extensive cattle farms are found in the interior. It exports 
large quantities of hides. 

Map of South America .—How is Monte Video hounded ! Can you 
describe the river ! Parana! Uruguay! Rio Negro! 


BRAZIL. 

Brazil is a very extensive region which occupies nearly the 
whole of the eastern part of South America. It was formerly 
a Portuguese colony, but is now an independent empire. 

The Brazilian ranges of mountains are of great extent, but 
not near so elevated as the Andes of Colombia and Peru. The 
principal mass of these mountains lies northwest of Rio Janiero, 
towards the sources of the rivers San Francisco, Parana, and 
Tocantins. 

In the interior, Brazil is generally very level, and the great plain of 
Paresis in the centre, Campas Geraes on the river San Francisco, 
and the plains of the Amazon, are almost boundless. 

The greatest rivers in America, and in the world, flow through Brazil, 
of which the Amazon, La Plata, and Tocantins are the principal. The 
Amazon rises in the Andes, and flowing eastward in a course of 4500 
miles, in which it receives 200 tributary rivers, enters the Atlantic by a 
mouth 175 miles wide. 

The climate of Brazil is that of continual 
summer; the forests are clothed with per¬ 
petual green, and the most useful and splen¬ 
did plants and trees grow there in great abun¬ 
dance. 

The mangrove tree, [Fig. 94,] found in the 
swampy tracts along the sea shore, is remark¬ 
able for the manner in w r hich its seeds shoot 
from the parent plant and form roots below. 

Brazil wood and rose wood, now so exten- 

What was Monte Video formerly and now ? What of the city of Monte 
Video ? What of the productions ? 

What part of South America does Brazil occupy ? WTiat ranges of moun¬ 
tains ? What of the surface of the interior ? What of the rivers ? Climate ? 
Wliat of the mangrove tree ? What ornamental woods ? Medicinal plants ? 





128 ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

sively used for ornamental furniture, ipecacu- 
ana and copiaba, valuable medicines, and 
many other similar plants, are natives of Bra¬ 
zil. 

The cacao, or chocolate tree, [Fig. 95,] is 
a native of Brazil, though now cultivated in 
many other countries. 

Apes, baboons, and monkeys are found in 
great numbers in the forests. Bats are sur¬ 
prisingly numerous, and of great size. The 
puma and jaguar are the principal ferocious 
Chocolate Tree, Fig. 95. quadrupeds. 

The large black vultures are very nume¬ 
rous, and the great destroying eagle is found 
in the forests. 

Toucans, parokets, macaws, and many 
other birds with splendid plumage frequent 
the forests in flocks. The areponga, or black¬ 
smith bird, [Fig. 96,] is remarkable for utter¬ 
ing a loud note like the sound of a hammer 
on the anvil. Of the water birds, the scarlet 
curlew and red flamingo are met with in 
flocks of many hundreds. 

' Monstrous serpents of the boa species, and 
alligators, are met with along the rivers. Frogs 
and insects, of very large size, are almost in¬ 
numerable in some situations. 

Brazil was discovered by Cabral in the year 1500, and was soon 
after colonized by the Portuguese, who held possession of it till 1821, 
when it was erected into an independent empire. 

The soil of Brazil is of the most fertile 
description, and produces large quantities of 
sugar, coffee, cotton, rice, ana other valuable 
articles, though agriculture is conducted in a 
very imperfect manner. 

Cassava bread is in general use in Brazil 
and Guiana. It is prepared from the root of 
the jatropha manihot, [Fig. 97,] the same 
plant which yields the tapioca. In its raw 
^ ^ state it is one of the most violent poisons, but 

being baked becomes not only innocent, 
Jatropha Manihot, F.g. 97. b „ t e x C |edm gl y nutri t i 0US . 

Cattle abound in Brazil, and mostly run wild. Some of the herds 
contain forty thousand, and they are killed chiefly for their hides. 

The mineral productions of Brazil are of the most valuable descrip¬ 
tion. Gold occurs in the form of dust, brought down by the streams, 
and diamonds are a source of wealth still more brilliant. The principal 
diamond ground is in a circle of about sixteen leagues round Tejuco. 



Areponga, Fig. 96. 



What animals ? What rapacious birds ? What of the birds ? 'What of the 
areponga ? What serpents and reptiles ? By whom was Brazil discovered ? 
What of the soil and productions ? What of the cattle ? What mineral 


BRAZIL. 


129 





Diamond River, Fig. 98. 


Of all the deposi¬ 
tories of diamonds, 
the most celebrated is 
the river Jiquitonho- 
na, [Fig. 98.] When 
worked, the river is 
turned aside by canals 
or pumps, and the earth 
from the channel dug 
out and washed to dis¬ 
cover the diamonds it 
contains. 

C ommerce flourishes 

tgETS Country on foreign manufactures The exports 
consist chiefly of hides, wheat, cotton, coftee,.sugar, tobacco, and 
Brazil wood. The imports consist of wines, brandy, manutactured 

goods, flour, and salted provisions. Wtpq two-fifth 

S Of the population of Brazil only one-fifth are whites two mtn 
negro slaves, and the rest free coloured persons. The ^dians have 
never incorporated with the white inh abitants, u 
forests, where they live 
by hunting and on the ] 
roots they can dig up. 

Rio J aneiro, [Fig. 99,] 
the capital of Brazil, is 
the largest and most flou¬ 
rishing city of South 
America. It is situated 
on one of the finest bays 
in the world, which af¬ 
fords a very secure har¬ 
bour for shipping. Popu¬ 
lation, 150,000. 

The city is well built, 
and contains many hand¬ 
some public and private 
buildings. The emperor’s 
country palace, called 
San Christovao, [Fig. 

100,] near the city, has a 
very pleasing effect. 

The trade of Rio Ja¬ 
neiro is very extensive, 
and there is an arsenal 
and dockyard near the 
city, on a small island in 
the harbour. 

Bahia, called also St. 

Salvador, is the second 
city of Brazil. It is situ- 


Rio Janeiro, Fig. 99. 


Palace of San Christovao, Fig. 100. 


productions ? Where is the most celebrated depository of diamonds l What 

6 * 












130 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


ated on a handsome bay, and though not generally well built, contains a ca¬ 
thedral and several other churches, which are highly ornamented. The ap¬ 
pearance of the surrounding country is beautiful in the extreme, and com¬ 
prises one of the most flourishing parts of Brazil. Population, 120,000. 

Pernambuco, the third city in Brazil, is a very flourishing place. It is 
situated on a fine harbour, and surrounded by a very productive country, 
which makes it a place of great trade. Population, 70,000. 

Tejuco, the capital of the Diamond district, and St. J oao, celebrated for its 
gold mines, are among the important towns in the interior of Brazil. 

Map of South America .—How is Brazil bounded ? What range of 
mountains in the southeast 1 ? Can you describe the river Amazon! 
Tocantins! Xingu? Topayas! Madeira! Paras! Juray! Jutayl 
Gurapy! Parnaiba! San Francisco! Parana! Paraguay ? What 
rivers flow into the Amazon on the north ? Where is Rio Janeiro ? St. 
Salvador? Pernambuco? Princippe? St. Joaodel Rey? Pitangui? 
Villa Boa? Cuiaba? Paracatu? Maranham? What towns on the 
Amazon? On the Tocantins ? On the Parnaiba? St. Francisco? What 
other towns ? 


GUIANA. 

Guiana includes a large tract of country in South America, 
lying between the river Amazon and the Republic of Colombia. 

Guiana is a low, level, and swampy country, the greater part 
of which is still covered with immense forests. The soil is ex¬ 
ceedingly fertile, but the climate is very hot and unhealthy. 

Some of the most valuable commodities, such as cotton, sugar, 
coffee, cacao, indigo, and spices, are amongst the staple productions 
of Guiana. 

The European settlements are situated near the coast, and the inte¬ 
rior is still m the possession of some of the most fierce and savage 
native tribes. 

The part of Guiana which formerly belonged to Portugal is now 
incorporated with Brazil. The remainder is divided between the 
English, French, and Dutch. 

English Guiana extends about three hundred miles along the coast, 
and includes the colonies of Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo, each 
situated at the mouth of a river of the same name. 

St. George, formerly called Stabroek, population, 10,000, and New Am¬ 
sterdam, are the only important towns. 

Dutch Guiana, also called Surinam, constitutes the most important 
of the Dutch possessions in America. 

Paramaribo, at the mouth of the river Surinam, where it affords an excel- 

of the commerce ? Inhabitants ? What of Rio Janeiro p Its public edifices ? 
Trade ? Bahia ? Pernambuco ? Tejuco P St. Joao ? 

What does Guiana include ? What is the character of the country ? What 
valuable productions P Who are the inhabitants P To what nations does 
Guiana belong ? What is the extent of English Guiana P What important 




EUROPE. 131 

lent anchorage for vessels, is a considerable town, well built, and adorned 
with fine trees. Population, 20,000. 

French Guiana, also called Cayenne, extends along the coast about 
five hundred miles, having Dutch Guiana on the west, and Portuguese, 
or rather Brazilian Guiana on the east. 

Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, is a small town, with a spacious 
and commodious harbour. Population, 3000. 


Map of South America.— How is Guiana bounded ? In what part is 
English Guiana? Dutch Guiana? French Guiana? Can you describe 
the Essequibo River ? Surinam River ? Marowine ? Where is George¬ 
town? New Amsterdam? Paramaribo? Cayenne? 


EUROPE. 

The form of Europe is singularly broken and varied, being 
split into many distinct portions, peninsulas, and large islands, 
with extended and winding coasts. 

This form arises chiefly from the number of its inland seas, 
of which the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Black Sea, are the 
most important. 

Though the surface of Europe is very diversified, its moun¬ 
tains do not reach that stupendous height, nor extend in such 
unbroken chains as those of Asia and America. 

Nevertheless, two Highlands may be traced, the northern and south¬ 
ern, and the intermediate Lowland. 

The southern Highland comprises the most celebrated mountains of 
Europe, the Alps and Pyrennees, connected by the low chain of the 
Cevennes. 

North of these commences the great European Lowland, comprising 
the largest part of France, the south of England, north of Germany, 
all Poland, and the greater part of Russia. 

In the north the mountainous character again prevails, and the Do- 
frafield Mountains extend through Scandinavia, while the north of 
England and nearly all Scotland is covered with mountains of se¬ 
condary magnitude. 

The rivers of Europe are numerous, but none of them are of the 
very first magnitude. The Volga and Danube only, approach the size 
of the great rivers of Asia and America. 

The lakes of Europe, though numerous, are small; those of Ladoga 
and Onega alone, possess any commercial importance. 

towns ? What is the extent of Dutch Guiana P Wbat important towns ? 
What is the extent of French Guiana P The capital P 

What are the general features of Europe P From what does the form arise ? 
What of the mountains of Europe ? What two Highlands P What is the ex¬ 
tent of the southern Highland P What of the great European Lowland P 
What is the extent of the northern Highland P What of the rivers of Europe p 





132 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The European soil is distinguished for its valuable produc¬ 
tions. Grain of different kinds is raised over its whole surface, 
except the extreme north; wines throughout all its southern re¬ 
gion, and in hemp, flax, wool, and silk, it is equally productive. 

If we except the horse and the camel, for which Asia is re¬ 
nowned, the most valuable as well as the most numerous breeds 
of domestic animals are natives of Europe. 

Its northern forests produce some of the finest timber in the 
world, and the iron of Europe, the most useful of all metals, 
surpasses that of any other region. 

The cultivation of the soil is carried on with great diligence, 
and in science, skill, and extent of capital employed upon it, 
is unrivalled. 

In manufacturing skill, Europe has surpassed every other 
portion of the globe, both in the variety and cheapness of its 
productions. 

Commerce is on a very extensive scale. European vessels 
are found in the utmost b unds of Asia and America, in the 
snowy regions of the pole, and crowding the ports of the Aus¬ 
tralian continent. 

The population of Europe, according to the latest estimates, amounts to 
about 226,000,000, distributed as follows:— 


European Russia, 




Population, 

56,525,000 

France, - 

_ 

_ 

_ 

32,000,000 

Austria, - - - 

_ 

_ 


32,000,000 

Great Britain, 

- 

_ 

_ 

23,400,000 

German States, 

_ 

_ 

_ 

13,446,000 

Prussia, - 

- 

- 

_ 

12,464,000 

Spain, - 

Turkey, - 

- 

- 

- 

13,500,000 

- 

- 

- 

9,500,000 

The Two Sicilies, 

- 

- 

_ 

7,420,000 

Holland and Belgium, 

- 

- 

- 

6,145,000 

Sardinian States, 

- 

- 

- 

4,300,000 

Portugal, - 

- 

- 

- 

3,530,000 

Sweden and Norway, 

- 

- 

- 

3,806,000 

States of the Church, 

- 

- 

_ 

2,500,000 

Switzerland, 

- 

- 


1 980,000 

Denmark, - - - 

- 

- 

_ 

1,950,000 

Tuscany, - 

- 

- 

. 

1,275,000 

Parma, Lucca, Modena, and San Marino, 

- 

_ 

975,000 

Cracow, - 

- 

- 

- 

111,000 


The people of Europe are divided chiefly into three races, which dif¬ 
fer to a very marked degree in language, political situation, and habits 
of life. They are called the Sclavonic, Teutonic, and Romish races. 
The Sclavonic race consists of about twenty-five millions of Rus- 

Lakes ? What of the soil and productions ? What of the domestic animals ? 
The forests ? Cultivation ? Manufactures ? Commerce ? What of the 
population ? What three races of people ? What of the Sclavonic race ? 


EUROPE. 


133 


8ians, ten millions of Poles, and ten millions in other adjacent coun¬ 
tries. 

The Teutonic race, besides Germany, their original seat, have filled 
the greater part of Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Great Britain. 
The Teutonic race may be estimated at fifty millions. 

The Romish race includes the inhabitants of southern Europe, 
France, Italy, and the Spanish peninsula. Their number is about 
sixty millions. 


The Celts, in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Spain, are the remains 
of the most ancient inhabitants of western Europe, and amount to six 
millions. 

The Greeks of Europe amount to two millions; the Jews also, 
spread through all Europe, are about two millions in number. 

The Tartars, Turks, Hungarians, and Gipsies are of Asiatic origin; 
they are found chiefly in the parts of Europe bordering on Asia, and 
amount altogether to six or seven millions. 

The religion of Europe is almost entirely Christia'n. The few Ma- 
homedans who have found their way into it consist of Asiatic races, 
Turks, and Tartars. 

The Christians of Europe are divided into three great churches, the 
Greek, Roman Catholic, and the Protestant. 

The Greek church is the established religion of the Russian empire, 
is the religion of the modern Greeks, and has numerous votaries in 
Hungary and some other countries. 

The Roman Catholic religion embraces Italy, Spain, Portugal, 
France, the dominions of Austria, with large portions of Germany, 
Ireland, and Russian Poland. 

The Protestant religion has been established in Great Britain, the 
Netherlands, the North of Germany, and in Sweden and Norway. 

The most prominent sects amongst Protestants are the Lutherans and 
Calvinists, and these again are divided into several minor sects, as 
Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, Moravians, Unitarians. 

In learning, arts, and sciences, Europe has far surpassed every other 
portion of the globe, and by the invention of printing, knowledge is 
rapidly increasing among all classes. 

The political condition of Europe, though mostly consisting of mo¬ 
narchical states, affords a much better protection to persons and pro¬ 
perty than the despotic governments of Asia and Africa. 

In the Arctic regions of Europe, including the northern part of 
Norway, Sweden, and Russia, there are few animals; the white bear 
and reindeer are those which are able to endure the severity of the cli¬ 
mate, except those of the marine kind, such as the whale, walrus, and 
seal, which are numerous. 

In the region of central Europe, including the portion between the 

Teutonic race ? Romish race ? The Celts ? Greeks ? Jews ? What other 
races ? What of the religion ? What divisions of Christians ? What of the 
Greek church ? Roman Catholic ? Protestant ? What Protestant sects ? 
What of the European arts and sciences ? Political condition ? What of the 
animals of northern Europe ? Central Europe ? What of tire bears ? What 



134 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 






Arctic Region and 45° north latitude, a sensible change in the number 
and species of animals takesplace. 

The great white bear is found only on the 
southern shores of the Polar Ocean, while the 
common brown species [Fig. 101] is found 
in the temperate regions of Europe. 

The wolf and fox are generally distributed 
over Europe, which, with the lynx and wild 
cat, are the only truly carnivorous animals 
found in this division of the globe. 

The beaver [Fig. 102] is found in the 
vicinity of the Rhone, the Danube, the 
Rhine, and other large European rivers, and 
Brown Bear, Fig. 101. appears to be of the same species as that 
found in America. 

The hamsters, remarkable for their cheek 
pouches, and the marmots, occur in the 
mountains of central and northern Europe. 
Of the hare there are four European species. 

Among ruminating animals, the elk and 
reindeer are well known in northern Europe, 
and the stag and roebuck in the central 
parts. 

In the lofty mountains of the Alps and 
Beaver, Fig. 102. Pyrennees the chamois and ibex [Fig. 103] 
still live in partial security, notwithstanding 
the daring intrepidity of the hunters. 

On the highest summits of the Alps are 
found all the four species of European vul¬ 
tures, of which only one, the yellow vulture, 
is found further north. 

In the southern division of Europe, includ¬ 
ing the portion south of 45°, the wild animals 
are few in number, and the buffalo, formerly 
wild, is domesticated in some countries, as 
Greece, Turkey, and Italy. 

The imperial eagle is chiefly found in the 
Ibex, Fig. 103. south of Europe, while the golden eagle is 
most frequent in colder latitudes. The 
spoonbill, flamingo, and pelican are met 
with along the shores of the Mediterranean 
Sea. 

The great loggerhead turtle, [Fig. 104,] 
of the Mediterranean, frequently grows to an 
immense size, weighing from six to nine 
Log. Turtle, Fig. 104. hundred pounds, but is of little value. 


carnivorous animals ? What of the hamster ? Marmot ? Hare ? Rumi¬ 
nating animals ? What mountain animals ? What birds on the Alps ? What 
of the animals of southern Europe ? Birds ? The loggerhead tiu-tle ? 



EUROPE. 


135 


DIVISIONS. 

Map of the World and Europe .—In what hemisphere is Europe ? 
How is Europe bounded ? Which are the divisions of Europe ? In 
[ what part of Europe is Russia I Sweden and Norway I France'? 
Germany ? Austria ? Prussia ? Switzerland ? Holland ? Belgium ? 
Spain ? Portugal ? Italy ? Turkey ? 

MOUNTAINS. 

j W’hat is a mountain ? Where are the Ural Mountains ? The Do- 
! frafield Mountains? The Carpathian Mountains? The Alps? Ap- 
ennine Mountains ? Pyrennees ? 

ISLANDS. 

What is an island ? Where is the island of Great Britain ? Ire¬ 
land? Sardinia? Corsica? Majorca? Minorca? Ivica? Sicily? 
Candia ? The Shetland Islands ? Faroe Islands ? Iceland ? What 
islands in the Baltic Sea ? 

PENINSULAS. 

What is a peninsula ? Between what divisions of water is the pe¬ 
ninsula which includes Spain and Portugal ? What divisions of 
•water make Italy a peninsula ? Greece ? The Crimea ? Denmark ? 
Sweden and Norway? 

CAPES. 

What is a cape? Where is Cape Spartivento? Cape de Gata? 
i Cape St. Vincent? Cape Finisterre? The Naze? North Cape? 

SEAS AND LAKES. 

What is a sea ? Which is the largest sea connected with Europe ? 
Where is the Mediterranean Sea ? The Archipelago ? Black Sea ? 
Sea of Azof? The Baltic? North Sea? White Sea? What is a 
lake? W T here is Lake Onega? Ladoga? Lake Wenner? Lake 
Wetter? 

GULFS AND BAYS. 

What is a gulf? What is a bay? Where is the Gulf of Venice? 
Gulf of Bothnia ? Gulf of Finland ? Gulf of Riga ? Bay of Biscay ? 

STRAITS. 

What is a strait ? What is a channel ? Where is the Strait of 
Gibraltar ? Strait of Dover ? The English Channel ? St. George’s 
Channel ? Bristol Channel ? 

RIVERS. 

What is a river? Where is the Danube? The Dneiper? Dneister? 
Don? Volga? Dwina? Onega? Vistula? Oder? Elbe? Rhine? 
Loire? Tagus? Ebro? Rhone? 


BRITISH ISLANDS. 

The British Islands, from their situation, command peculiar 
advantages, both for natural strength in war and as an empo¬ 
rium of commerce in time of peace. 





136 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


They consist of two principal islands, Great Britain and Ire¬ 
land. Britain is again divided into two parts, England and 
Scotland. England includes the principality of Wales. These 
compose the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 
The population of England is 14,000,000, that of Scotland 
2,364,000, and that of Ireland 7,767,000. 


ENGLAND. 

The surface of England is diversified; the eastern districts 
are generally level, but along the western side of the island are 
large tracts, not only hilly, but sometimes rising into mountain 
grandeur. 

The small islands near the coast of England are of no great import¬ 
ance. The Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea, the Scilly Islands, near the 
southwest extremity, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, near the 
coast of France, are chiefly worthy of notice. 

The Thames, though not the largest, deserves to be ranked amongst 
the first of British rivers. The other important rivers are the Trent 
and Severn. There are no large lakes. Windermere, the largest lake, 
is only twelve miles in length. 

Great Britain includes a considerable variety of climate, and though 
the atmosphere is damp and foggy, it is everywhere much milder 
than on the continent, in the same latitude, being tempered more or 
less by the surrounding ocean. 

Great Britain contains many noble forests of oak, pine, beech, birch, 
and other useful trees. Many kinds of forest trees also flourish, w'hich, 
on the continent, are found only in a more southern latitude. 

Coarse grasses, sedges, and rushes too often cover 
the wet moors with a scanty and almost useless 
vegetation, and the different heaths, [Fig. 105,]| 
from their abundance, give a peculiar character to 
many parts of Great Britain, especially in the 
north. 

Of the various kinds of grain, wheat, rye, oats, 
and barley are the universal crops, and they all suc¬ 
ceed in situations not too elevated above the level of 
the sea. 

The wild animals of Great Britain are not nume¬ 
rous. The wolf and bear have been long extinct, but 
the fox, badger, hedgehog, wildcat, polecat, weasel, 
martin, and some others, are still found in the wild 
state. 

What advantages peculiar to the British Islands ? Of what do they consist ? 
What is the general character of England ? What of the rivers ? Lakes ? 
What of the climate ? What small islands ? What of the forests ? What 
other kinds of vegetation ? Wliat kinds of grain ? What wild animals ? 



Cornish Heath, 
Fig. 105. 




ENGLAND. 137 

The breeds of domestic animals have been gTeatly improved, and 
are now considered superior to those of most other countries. 

Of the birds of prey, the golden eagle is the largest. There are also 
! several other species of eagles, and also of owls. 

The singing birds are numerous, amongst which the nightingale is 
the most celebrated. Of the poultry kind, the partridge, quail, grouse, 
and more particularly the large bustard, is found m the extensive 
moors. 

The different kinds of fish, both marine and fresh water, are nu¬ 
merous about the coasts and in the rivers, and the herring fishery es- 
I pecially is of great value and importance. 

The government of Great Britain is a limited monarchy. The 
! legislative power is vested in the parliament, which consists of 
the king, an hereditary sovereign, the lords, an hereditary aris¬ 
tocracy, and the house of commons, consisting of members 
chosen by the people from amongst themselves. The executive 
power is intrusted to the king. 

The productive industry of England far surpasses that of any 
other country. Her manufacturers clothe the most distant na¬ 
tions, and her vessels are found in every accessible part of the 
globe. 

The natural fertility of England is not equal to some other 
European countries, but it is capable of yielding all the most 
valuable kinds of grain in abundance, and by the great industry 
bestowed on the cultivation of the soil, the agricultural produc¬ 
tions exceed that of any other country in Europe. 

The manufactures of Great Britain have astonished the world, 
and raised her, in this respect, to a decided superiority over all 
other nations. The principal manufactures are those of cotton, 
wool, linen, silk, earthenware, and the different articles made 
from the metals. 

The mines of England are one of the most copious sources 
from which her wealth is derived. The most valuable metals 
are iron, copper, and tin, and the principal minerals are coal and 
salt. 

The commerce of England is now completely without a rival. 
Her exports consist almost wholly of manufactured goods, 
which find a market in almost every country. 

Among the imports, a large portion consists of the raw materials, 
such as cotton, wool, dye stuns, timber, and naval stores, besides 
sugar, tea, coffee, tobacco, spice, and other articles of domestic con¬ 
sumption. 

Besides nearly 1000 vessels of war, the commercial navy of Great 
Britain consists of more than twenty-five thousand vessels, to which 


Domestic animals ? Birds of prey ? Other birds ? What kinds of fish ? 
What is the government of Great Britain ? What of the productive industry ? 
Natural fertility ? Manufactures? Mines? Commerce? Exports? Im- 




133 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


her commerce gives employment, as well as to a large number of fo- to 
reign ships. . . of 

The whale fishery, though considerable, is not prosecuted by British | 
ships on a scale equal to other branches of industry, and is diminishing l 
rather than increasing. 

The internal navigation of England is justly regarded as one of the ’ 
prime sources of her prosperity. The common roads are excellent, and 
many thousand miles of canals and railroads have been constructed | 
through the most important portions of the country. 

The national character of the English is conspicuous for the love of 1 
liberty which pervades all classes. They are also remarkable for 
their love of justice, humanity, and hospitality. f 

The Church of England is established by law, having for its head 
the king, who appoints the bishops, called also lords spiritual, who are 
entitled to a seat in the house of lords when sitting in parliament. 

The institutions for public education, in England, are extensive and 
splendidly endowed. The two universities, Oxford and Cambridge, 
are not only the wealthiest, but the most ancient in Europe. The Lon¬ 
don University and King’s College have recently been established in 
London. 

Wales. 

Wales, though united to England by early conquest, still retains the 
title of a separate principality, and possesses a national aspect. 

The verdant and extensive plains of western England have given 
place to the lofty mountain, deep valley, and the frightful precipice. I 
Plinlimmon and Cader Idris are the highest mountain peaks. 

Wales has rivers and torrents without number, which roll through j 
its mountain valleys, and combine in the most striking manner with ] 
the lofty and varied summits which tower above them. 

Agriculture, in such a country, labours under many disadvantages, 
and is not always conducted in the most skilful manner, and the ma¬ 
nufactures are nearly confined to articles of flannel, in which they 
excel. 

It is to mining, however, that the industry of Wales has been chiefly 
attracted by the profusion of mineral wealth lodged in the bowels of 
its mountains. Lead, copper, and above all, iron are objects of ex¬ 
tensive importance. 

The Welch are a Celtic race, the descendants of the ancient Britons. 
They are hardy, lively, active, hospitable, and kind-hearted, only a 
little hot and quarrelsome. 

Loirnow, the metropolis of the United Kingdom, is the seat of legislation, 
jurisprudence, and government; the principal residence of the sovereign, at 
which affairs of state are transacted, and relations maintained with foreign 


ports ? Number of ships ? Whale fishery ? Internal navigation ? National 
character ? The Church of England ? Institutions for public education ? 

What of Wales? What are its general features? What of its rivers? 
What of its agriculture ? Manufactures ? Mining ? What is the national 
character of the Welsh ? 





ENGLAND. 


139 


courts; the centre of all important operations in commerce or finance, and 
of correspondence with every quarter of the globe. 

London, in its comprehensive sense, includes the city and liberties of 
London, the city of Westminster, and the borough of Southwark. Its extent, 
from east to west, is nearly eight miles, and its breadth exceeds five miles, 
with a population of not less than 1,800,000. 

London is well built, well paved, and abundantly supplied with water. The 
main streets are spacious, and all the streets have flagged foot pavements on 
each side. 

The charm of London, as a great city, is its variety; those who dislike the 
narrow streets of the city may delight in the spacious streets and squares of 
the West End. Bond street is the resort of gavety and fashion, and Regent 
street, for architectural effect, is one of the grandest streets in Europe. 

St. Paul’s Cathedral is the finest specimen of modern architecture in the 
kingdom, and after St. Peter’s, at Rome, may rank as the finest church in 
Christendom. 


Westminster Abbey excites interest from the numerous monuments of kings, 
( t warriors, statesmen, philosophers, and poets, which it encloses. The chapel, 
. a t the western extremity, is an ancient edifice, in the richest style of Gothic 
t architecture. 

The bridges over the Thames, at London, attract attention from their beauty 
and utility. They are five in number, and a tunnel is also constructing under 
the bed of the river. 

Manchester, the centre of British industry, and the manufacturing capital 
of the empire, is favourably situated on the Irwell. Population, 183,000; 
with the suburbs, 270,000. 

Although the cotton manufacture is now widely diffused, Manchester con¬ 
tains the centre of the trade, receiving and distributing the raw material, col¬ 
lecting the produce worked up in numerous towns and villages, and trans- 
i mitting it to the various markets. 

Liverpool far surpasses every seaport of England, except London. It is 
situated at the mouth of the Mersey, and has very extensive internal commu¬ 
nications by means of railroads and canals. Population, 165,000; with the 
I suburbs, 203,000. 

Both the import and export trade of Liverpool is very extensive, and the 
immense docks which have been constructed for the convenience of shipping, 

! excite universal admiration. 

Birmingham is a very ancient city, and now celebrated for the immense ex¬ 
tent and importance of its manufactures, which, however, consist chiefly of 
small articles, such as pins, needles, buttons, nails and toys. There are also 
extensive manufactories for fire-arms. Population, 147,000. 

Leeds is remarkable for the spirit and activity of its manufactures. The 
principal articles produced are cloths of various kinds, both woollen and cot¬ 
ton, and carpets. Population, 123,000. 

Sheffield is also important, chiefly on account of its manufactures, which 
consist chiefly of knives, forks, razors, scissors, combs, buttons, saws, sickles, 
and other articles of husbandry. Population, 59,000. 

Bristol was formerly distinguished as a place of great commercial import¬ 
ance, but for the last century has remained nearly stationary. It is situated on 


What of London ? What does London include ? 'What of its internal 
condition ? What variety does it afford ? What of St. Paul’s Cathedral ? 
Westminster Abbey ? The bridges ? What of Manchester ? Trade of Man¬ 
chester ? What of Liverpool ? Trade of Liverpool ? What of Birming¬ 
ham ? Leeds? Sheffield? Bristol? Nottingham? Portsmouth? Plymouth? 





140 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 



the Avon, and still has an active trade and considerable manufactures. Popu- 
lation, 59,000; with the suburbs, 104,000. j ^ 

Nottingham is a large town, situated on the river Trent. The making of 1 
stockings has always been the staple manufacture. Nottingham has also a { 
great inland trade by the Trent and the canals connected with it. Population, 
51,000. 

Portsmouth is the grand arsenal for equipping the powerful navies of Great 
Britain, for which no port in the world has a greater combination of natural I 
advantages. Here are carried on, upon a gigantic scale, all the operations > 
for building, equipping, and refitting ships, and supplying the navy. Popula¬ 
tion, 50,000. 

Plymouth, also, is one of the great naval arsenals of Britain. The harbour 
is capable of containing 2000 vessels in perfect security. Populatio , 4l,000[ ] 
Newcastle, on the Tyne, has a very extensive trade, chiefly in coals. Both 
banks of the river, down to Tynemouth, form an immense wharf, to which, by t 
railways and steam wagons, coals are conveyed from the contiguous pits, | 
New Castle also carries on very extensive manufactures, particularly that of 
glass. Population, 42,000. 


Bath, Fig. 106. 

Bath [Fig. 106] is celebrated for its mineral springs, and is the most beau- I 
tiful city in England. The Romans made it one of their principal stations, and 
built splendid baths, from which the city derives its name, the remains of 
which have been discovered in modern times. Population, 38,000. 

Oxford is justly celebrated for its university, which is the most richly en¬ 
dowed of any in Europe, and has been the nursery of many great men. Popu¬ 
lation, 21,000. 

Cambridge, also the seat of one of the two great universities, is celebrated 
for the number of great men who have been educated there; among them, 
Newton and Milton are the most conspicuous. Population, 20,000. 

Merthvr Tidvill is the largest town in Wales, and carries on an immense 
trade in iron, of which there are extensive manufactories in the neighbour¬ 
hood. Population, 22,000. 

Newcastle ? Bath ? Oxford ? Cambridge ? What of Merthvr Tidvill ? 
Swansea ? Caermarthen ? Caernarvon ? 















SCOTLAND. 


141 


, Swansea has risen to its present importance by its immense works in iron 
and copper, and by the exportation of coal. Its situation on a fine bay has also 
f made it an extensive resort for sea bathing. Population, 14,000. 

, Caermarthen, situated on the Towey, which admits vessels of 300 tons, is 
one of the most flourishing and best built towns in Wales. Population, 10,000. 
1 Caernarvon is a handsome, well built town; population, 8,000. 


Map of Europe .—How are the British Islands bounded 1 How is 
i Enplane bounded 1 What sea between England and Ireland ! What 
I strait between France and England ! Where is the English Channel ! 

St. George’s Channel ! Bristol Channel I Where is the Isle of 
{ Wight! The Scilly Islands! Isle of Man! Lizard Point! The 
| Land’s End ! The river Thames ! 

What is the capital of England ! On what river is London ! Where 
is Liverpool! Manchester! York! Durham! Lincoln! Norwich! 
Chester! Gloucester! Cambridge! Bristol! Exeter! Dover! 


SCOTLAND. 

Scotland consists of two perfectly distinct parts, the Low¬ 
lands and Highlands. The Lowlands include all Scotland 
| south of the Frith of Forth, and Clyde. The Highlands com¬ 
prise the west and centre of Northern Scotland. 

The Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland Islands, comprise a third divi¬ 
sion of Scotland. In StafFa, one of the Hebrides, is a large rock, a 
mile and a half round, which contains the celebrated cave of Fingal. 
Among the Scottish mountains, the most considerable are the Gram- 

E ians, several of whose peaks exceed 4000 feet, and Ben Nevis, the 
ighest peak, reaches the height of 4315 feet. 

The rivers of Scotland are, of course, short, but distinguished for 
the friths which they form at their junction with the sea. The Forth, 
Clyde, and Tweed are the principal rivers. 

Scotland has always ranked as a poor country, agriculture being 
i impeded by its vast hills and morasses, but wheat, oats, and barley are 
! raised in considerable quantities. 

Manufactures, which consist chiefly of woollen, linen, and cotton, 

I are in a flourishing condition. The mineral wealth of Scotland consists 
I chiefly of lead, iron, and coal. Coal is very abundant. 

The fisheries form a considerable branch of industry in Scotland. 
Herring, cod, and haddock abound on most of its shores. 

The commerce of Scotland is of great extent, chiefly with England 
and Ireland, but also with foreign countries. 

The Scots are a grave, serious, reflecting, and temperate people, 
but bold, enterprising, and ambitious. To their religious duties they 
have ever shown an exemplary attention. The Presbyterian Church is 
that established by law in Scotland. 

Of what does Scotland consist ? What islands ? Mountains ? Rivers? 
What of the agriculture of Scotland ? Manufactures ? Fisheries ? Com¬ 
merce? What is the character of the Scots? What is the established 





142 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 



' Edinbttik?, [Fig. 107,] the capital of Scotland, is built upon three ridges | j l 
running from east to west, which situation gives it peculiar beauty, which | ill 
arises from the general effect rather than that of particular edifices, though 
tfie cathedral of St. Giles has been admired for its spire, and Holy Rood .1 
Palace for its ancient chapel. Population, 136,000. 


The University of Edinburg has risen to great fame, and the medical school, 
in particular, attracts numerous students. 

Leith, the port of Edinburg, carries on a considerable trade. The harbour 
has been greatly improved by the construction of docks, and a pier extending j 
far into the sea, for the safety of shipping. Population, 26,000. 

Glasgow is the commercial capital of Scotland. It has considerable trade, ! 
but its chief prosperity is derived from its manufactures, of which that of ! 
cotton is the most important. It has also a celebrated university. Population, i 
202,000. 

Aberdeen is a handsome city, and now the principal ship-building port in I 
Scotland; population, 58,000. Dundee is a flourishing commercial city; 
population, 45,000. Perth is the most beautiful city in Scotland; population, 
20,000. Inverness is the capital of the Highlands; population, 15,000. 

Map of Europe .—How is Scotland bounded I What cluster of islands j 
near its coast 1 Where is the Frith of Forth 1 Where is Edinburg I ij 
Glasgow? Perth? Aberdeen? Inverness? Ayr? Thurso? 


IRELAND. 

The central districts of Ireland comprise one vast plain, but 
other parts are diversified by ranges of mountains equal in ex¬ 


Edinburg, Fig. 107. 


church? What of Edinburg ? The University ? What of Leith ? Glasgow? 
Aberdeen ? Dundee ? Perth ? Inverness ? 

Wliat are the general features of Ireland ? What of the rivers ? Lakes ? 

























IRELAND. 


143 


i tent, and with one exception, in Wales, equal in height to any 
i in England. 

The Shannon is the largest river in the three kingdoms. It rises in 
the north, and has a course of 170 miles, all of which is more or less 
navigable. The Barrow, Boyne, and Foyle are the other principal 
rivers. 

Lakes, or loughs, are conspicuous features of Ireland, which, like 
the similar name in Scotland, is often applied to an arm of the sea. 

Opposite the coast of Scotland is the Giant’s Causeway, which con¬ 
sists of basaltic columns, forming a natural pier 400 feet in height, 
stretching out into the sea. 

Ireland, like Scotland, has been politically united to England, but it 
retains more of the aspect of a separate kingdom, as a lord lieutenant 
displays a portion of the state, and exercises some of the functions of 
j royalty. 

With respect to productive industry, Ireland has long formed a very 
painful spectacle, a great proportion of the population being involved 
m extreme poverty. 

Owing to the excellence of the pasturage, the raising of cattle and 
sheep has been long the main staple of Irish husbandry. Wheat and 
barley are raised in considerable quantities, but oats and potatoes are 
the principal crops. 

The linen manufacture is that for which Ireland is chiefly celebrated, 
The cotton and wool factory is also of considerable importance. 

The commerce of Ireland is chiefly carried on with England, and 
consists of the export of raw material, grain, and salted provisions. 

The character of the Irish presents very marked features. Hospi¬ 
tality is a universal trait, and they are also celebrated for benevolence 
and warmth of heart. 

Though the great body of the Irish people are Roman Catholics, the 
Episcopal Church is established by law in Ireland, which has been one 
of the chief causes of the unsettled condition of the country. 

Dublix, the capital of Ireland, disputes with Edinburg and Bath the re¬ 
putation of being the most beautiful city in the United Kingdom. Popula¬ 
tion, 204,000. 

The public buildings of Dublin are built with stone, and have generally a 
very fine appearance. Those most worthy of notice are St. Patrick’s Cathe- 
! dral, the Bank, formerly the parliament house of Ireland, and the Exchange. 

Cork, the second city, and the great southern emporium of Ireland, has one 
of the finest harbours in the world. Its great prosperity has risen from the ex¬ 
tent of its trade in provisions. Population, 107,000. 

Limerick, the third city in Ireland, carries on an extensive trade, and has 
an excellent harbour. Londonderry, also, is a fine city, with an excellent 
harbour and an extensive commerce. Population, 66,000. 

Map of Europe. —How is Ireland bounded ? Where is Cape Clear ? 
(?alway Bay? Where is Dublin? Cork? Limerick? Belfast? 
Londonderry ? Galway ? Sligo ? 

The Giant’s Causeway ? What of the government ? Productive industry ? 
What are the staple productions ? What of the manufactures ? Commerce ? 
What of the Irish character ? What is the established religion ? What of 
Dublin ? What of its public buildings > What of Cork ? Limerick ? 






144 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

FRANCE. 

France is a great and powerful kingdom ? placed, as it were, 
in the centre ot the civilized world, and distinguished for the 
conspicuous part it has acted on the theatre of Europe. 

The surface of France is, in general, level, though it borders 
on the Alps and Pyrennees, the greatest mountain ranges of 
Europe. The only mountain range exclusively French is that of 
Auvergne, in the centre of the kingdom, which, winding round , 
to the south, is called the Cevennes. 

The rivers of France, though not of the first magnitude, are | 
noble and commodious. The Loire, the Rhone, Seine, and 
Rhine are the most important. 

By far the greater part of France, including the whole north > 
and the whole west, is one idely extended plain, which yields, 
in very high perfection, all the fr its and products of the tern- l 
perate zone. 

Among the wild animals of France is the ! 
wolf, [Fig. 108,] which is still not uncom¬ 
mon in the wooded and mountainous districts, 
and when pressed by hunger it descends to 
the farms and even attacks the inhabitants, j 
The bear was once not uncommon, and the 
wild boar is not yet extirpated. 

The political constitution of France, prior I 
to the revolution, was almost purely despotic, 
but France may now be ranked among the 
Wolf, Fig. 108. constitutional limited monarchies. 

France, with regard to internal prosperity, 
is one of the richest and most flourishing countries in the world. The 
land is mostly divided into small portions, which are cultivated with 
much diligence. Wheat, rye, Indian com, barley, and oats are the 
principal objects of cultivation. 

The culture of the vine [Fig. 109] ranks 
next in importance to that of grain. The ! 
wines of France are generally accounted the i 
most delicate in the world. Those of Bur- i 
gundy and Champagne are without a rival, I 
if we except a few rare specimens of Tokay. 

The olive, noted for its mild and excellent 
oil, so extensively used under the name of j 
sweet oil, is also cultivated to a great extent, jj 
and brings forth its fruit in the highest de- \ 
gree of perfection. 

The manufactures of France, though they ; 
do not present the immense results of those i 

What is France ? What are the general features of France ? What 
mountains ? Rivers ? What of the country and its productions ? What 
wild animals ? What of the political constitution ? Internal prosperity ? 



Vine, Fig. 109. 







FRANCE. 


145 


of Great Britain are very productive. The silk, cotton, woollen, and 
linen factories, are those which have acquired most importance. 

France yields, in abundance, the most solid and useful of all metals, 
iron. Salt is extracted from sea water by evaporation, and also pro¬ 
cured from brine springs. Saltpetre and alum are also procured trom 
mines in considerable quantities. 

The commerce of France, while all other branches of industry are 
advancing, has perceptibly declined, and indeed an anti-commercial 
spirit seems to have become rooted in the mind of the nation. 

There are several important and extensive canals in France. That 
| of Languedoc, which unites the Atlantic with the Mediterranean, is 
170 miles long, and 6^ feet deep, with 100 locks. A maritime canal, 
from Paris to the sea, and several other canals and railroads, have 
been projected. 

The French national character has very marked features, and has 
been the object of the mingled admiration and contempt of the neigh¬ 
bouring nations. The art of living in society seems certainly carried 
. to a greater perfection than in any other country, and the manners of 
the people are full of gayety, amenity, and courtesy. 

Dress is a particular in which the French long claimed, and were 
allowed to give, the law to the rest of Europe. Paris has been for 
ages the grand magazine of fashion. 

The Roman Catholic is the ruling religion of France, though there 
are a large number of Protestants, and the most complete religious to¬ 
leration is enjoyed. 

Among the establishments for public education in France, the uni¬ 
versities,^ which are twenty-six in number, hold the first rank. The 
university of Paris is perhaps the most celebrated in Europe. Nearly 
twenty-three thousand primary schools are also under the direction of 
the government. 

Paris, the capital of France, has also many claims to be considered the 
capital of the civilized world. London alone can dispute its claim, being 
more extensive, more wealthy, and the seat of a more extended commerce. 
Population, 900,000. 

The palaces of Paris, in particular, far excel those of London. The most 
distinguished is the Louvre, a model of symmetry, with a front 525 feet long. 
The Louvre is not now occupied as a palace, but as a grand depot of the ob¬ 
jects of trade and art. 

The Palace of the Luxembourg, [Fig. 110,1 on the south of Paris, and the 
Palais Bourbon on the west, are edifices of great taste and beauty. The 
Chamber of Peers now meet in the Luxembourg, and the Palais Bourbon is 
in part occupied by the Chamber of Deputies. The Palais Royal is no longer 
exclusively a palace, but is occupied by shops, coffee houses, gaming tables, 
and other similar purposes. 

What of the culture of the vine ? The olive ? What of the manufactures 
of France ? What minerals ? What of the commerce of France ? What 
of the canals ? What of the French national character ? French fashions ? 
What of the religion ? What establishments for public education ? 

What of Paris ? The palaces of Paris ? Palace of the Luxembourg and 
Palais Bourbon ? Palais Royal ? What open spaces ? What royal palaces 






146 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 






Palace of the Luxembourg, Fig. 110. 


Paris also possesses 
great advantages in the 
wide, ornamented open 
spaces. The Boulevards, 
the ancient rampart of Pa¬ 
ris, is now converted into 
a public walk, adorned 
with rows of trees. The 
gardens of the Thuilleries, 
the palace now inhabited 
by the royal family, and 
the embellished spot called 
the Champs Elysees, are 
also open to the public. 

The environs of Paris, 
also, are chiefly marked by 
royal palaces, superb edi¬ 
fices, the work of successive kings, on which millions have been expended. 
The most splendid is that of Versailles, but it has not been inhabited by the 
French kings since the revolution. 

Havre, at the mouth of the Seine, is the port of Paris, and one of the most 
active seats of French commerce, though a gloomy town, with narrow and ill- 
built streets. Population, 21,000. 

Calais [Fig. Ill] is well 
known as the point of com¬ 
munication with England, 
and is chiefly supported by 
the packets, the harbour 
being unfit for any com¬ 
merce on a great scale. 
Population, 9000. 

Rouen is one of the 
noblest cities of France. 
Its manufacturers are 
among the most indus¬ 
trious and enterprising in 
the kingdom. Its cathe¬ 
dral, also, is one of the 
Calais Harbour, Fig. 111. finest in France. Popula¬ 

tion, 90,000. 

Brest, on the western coast, is the chief naval station on the ocean, as Tou¬ 
lon is on the Mediterranean. The works of Brest are very strong, though the 
town is crowded and dirty. Population, 27,000. 

Orleans, renowned for the exploits of Joan of Arc, in former times almost 
ranked as a second capital, and is still a superb and beautiful city. Popula¬ 
tion, 40,000. 

Bourdeaux, near the mouth of the Garonne, is one of the most important 
cities in France. Its trade is very extensive, and its port excellent. It exports 
large quantities of wine, and is also engaged in the whale and cod fisheries. 
■Population, 94,000. 

Montpelier enjoys an unrivalled fame for the salubrity of its climate. It is 




in the environs of Paris ? What of Havre ? Calais ? Rouen ? Brest ? 











































SPAIN. 147 

not uniformly well built, but presents a noble Roman aqueduct, a fine cathe¬ 
dral, and other handsome buildings. Population, 36,000. 

Toulon, the chief naval station of France in the Mediterranean, has two 
ports, the old and the new. The new port can contain 200 sail of the line, and 
is defended by strong forts. Population. 30,000. 

Marseilles, in modern times, has been the chief centre of the trade with 
the Levant. The harbour is spacious and secure, but narrow at the entrance, 
and shallow. Population, 116,000. 

Lyons is generally considered as the second city in France, and the fore¬ 
most in regard to commerce and industry. The quays along the Rhone are 
superb, and the public squares, with the fountains and statues, are nowhere 
surpassed. Population, 171,000. 

Rheims is a noble and ancient city, where the kings were crowned, and the 
cathedral is considered the most splendid specimen of Gothic architecture in 
existence. Population, 35,000. 

Corsica, renowned as die birthplace of the Emperor Napoleon, though 
more properly an Italian island, is politically united with France. The 
population of the island is 185,000,and Bastia, the chief town, contains 10,000 
inhabitants. 


Map of Europe .—How is France bounded ! What strait between 
France and England! Where is the Bay of Biscay! Gulf of 
Lyons! Can you describe the river Seine ! The Loire ! Garonne ! 
Rhone ! Rhine ! 

What city is the capital of France! On what river is Paris! 
Where is Rouen ! What cities on the Loire ! On the Garonne! On 
the Rhone ! On the coast of the Mediterranean ! Where is Calais ! 
Havre! Rennes! La Rochelle! Limoges! Clermont! Montauban! 
Avignon! Dijon! Troyes! Strasburg! 


SPAIN. 

Spain, with Portugal, forms a very extensive peninsula, the 
most southern as well as the most western portion of Europe. 

The surface of Spain is strikingly irregular, and is traversed 
by lofty chains of mountains, having plains of vast extent be- 
I tween them and the sea. The Pyrennees separate Spain from 
France, and the Sierra of Toledo, Sierra Morena, and Sierra 
Nivado, are the principal mountain ranges, which traverse the 
interior of the country. 

These long and lofty ranges are separated by very extensive 
elevated plains, and even Madrid is 2170 feet above the sea. 
The plains along the Mediterranean are almost on a level with 

Orleans ? Bourdeaux ? Montpelier ? Toulon ? Marseilles ? Lyons ? Rheims ? 
Corsica ? Bastia ? 

What does Spain, with Portugal, form ? What of the surface of Spain ? 
Which are the principal ranges of mountains ? What separates these ranges ? 
What of the plains along the Mediterranean ? W hat of the rivers ? Pro- 










148 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF CEOGRAPHY. 


that sea, and display a profuse fertility, 
abounding with the choicest fruit of a 
southern climate, such as the orange, 
[Fig. 112,] fig, and date. 

The rivers of Spain form as important 
and celebrated a feature as its mountains. 
The principal are the Douro, Tagus, 
Guadiana, Ebro, and Guadalquiver. 

The productions of Spain aTe of the most 
rich and varied description. Everywhere j 
about the rural habitations of the Spanish I 
peasantry the date, orange, lemon, olive, po- | 
megranate, and fig, [Fig. 113,] flourish, and j 
arrive at a high state of perfection. 

Of the native animals, the ibex is found in ! 
the mountains of Asturias, and the Alpine j 
squirrel in the Pyrennees. The European | 
bee-eater [Fig. 114] frequents the vicinity j 
of Gibraltar in large flocks during the season 1 
of migration. 

Of the domestic animals, the mule and ass i 
are principally used for conveying goods in i 
„ the interior, and Spain is still famous for its 

Fig, Fig. 113. merino sheep. 

The constitution of the Spanish monarchy 
has long been considered among the most 
despotic in Europe, and the country has been 
repeatedly harassed by civil wars. 

In respect to industry and wealth, with I 
every opportunity of becoming the foremost 
nation in Europe, Spain is the poorest and 
most uncultivated. Spain imports large quan- 
Bee-eater, Fig. 114. tities of grain, and exports wine, wool, and 
barilla. 

The manufactures of Spain are of little importance, and commerce 
is in an equally low and depressed state. 

The national character of the Spaniards is grave, proud, romantic, 
honourable, and generous. The Spaniards have peculiar and favourite 
diversions, are passionately attached to bull figbts, and not less so to 
the dance, especially under the national form of the fandango. 

The religion of Spain is the Roman Catholic, and the people show 
a great fondness for processions and festivals. 

Madrid, [Fig. 115,] the capital, stands on several low hills, on the immense 
plain of Castile, with a small rivulet flowing past the city, which falls into the 
Tagus. Population, 300,000. 

ductions ? What of the native animals ? Domestic animals ? What of the 
Spanish constitution ? What of the industry and wealth ? Exports and im¬ 
ports ? Manufactures ? Commerce ? What of the Spanish character ? What 
peculiar amusements ? What of the religion ? 






SPAIN. 149 


Madrid is a superb, but somewhat gloomy capital; the houses are high, well 
built of stone, and the streets well paved, with broad footpaths. 




Madrid, Fig. 115. 

The Prado, a wide public walk, bordered by trees, and connected with gar¬ 
dens all open to the public, is equally conducive to ornament and pleasure. 
The public fountains are numerous and well supplied with pure water. 

The royal palace, built by Philip V., is a spacious and magnificent struc¬ 
ture, which contains numerous fine paintings, though inferior to those at the 
Palace of the Escurial. 

Barcelona is, after Madrid, the largest city, and at the same time the most 
flourishing and industrious of all Spain. It carries on an extensive trade, 
though its port is artificial, being formed of solid and convenient moles. 
Population, 120,000. 

The city of Grenada, formerly the capital of the Moorish kings, is remark¬ 
able for the monuments of their splendour it still contains. The Alhambra, 
the ancient palace of the kings of Grenada, is the noblest existing specimen 
of Moorish architecture. 

Population, 68,000. 

Seville, near the mouth 
of the Guadalquiver, for¬ 
merly the capital of the 
Moorish kingdom, is now 
a solemn, dull, and gloomy 
city, with 91,000 inhabit¬ 
ants. 

Cadiz, [Fig. 116,] in an 
equal degree with Seville, 
was the boast of Spain, 
but its commerce has now 
greatly declined, and the 
population reduced to only 
a small portion of the for¬ 
mer number. Population, 53,000. 

What is the situation of Madrid ? What of its general appearance ? Can 
you describe the Prado ? The royal palace ? What of Barcelona ? Grena- 



Cadiz, Fig. 116. 























150 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Gibraltar, though no longer Spanish, forms a striking feature in the south 
of Spain. The rock is celebrated from the earliest antiquity as one of the 
“ Pillars of Hercules.” It was captured by the British in 1704, who have 
made it the strongest fortress in the world. The town of Gibraltar contains 
about 12,000 inhabitants. 

The Balearic Islands, Majorca, Minorca, and Ivica, form an appendage to 
Spain of some importance. Palma, on Majorca, and Port Mahon, on Minor¬ 
ca, are places of some celebrity. 


Map of Europe .—How is Spain bounded ! What large bay on the 
north ! What range of mountains between Spain and France ! W’hat ! 
two capes on the northwest part ! What two capes on the coast of 
the Mediterranean 1 What noted cape at the entrance of the Medi- i 
terranean ! Can you describe the river Douro ! Tagus ! Gaudi- 
ana ! Guadalquiver 1 Ebro ! 

What is the capital of Spain 1 In what part of Spain is Madrid ! 
W r hat cities in Spain are on or near the river Douro ! The Tagus ! 
The Guadiana 1 Guadalquiver 1 Ebro 1 W r hat five important cities 
on the coast of the Mediterranean 1 W'hat places near the coast of ‘ 
the Bay of Biscay 1 W T here is Leon ! Burgos'? Santiago! Val¬ 
ladolid! Segovia! Guadalaxara! Placentiaf Cuenca! Jaen! Gre¬ 
nada ! Cadiz! 


PORTUGAL. 

Portugal has, by political causes alone, been separated 
from Spain. All the grand natural features of Spain are pro¬ 
longed into Portugal, and become Portuguese. 

The mountains of Portugal may be considered as prolonga¬ 
tions of those of Spain. Those ranges cover almost the whole 
country, leaving between them rich and beautiful valleys. 

The rivers of Portugal are chiefly the terminations of the 
great rivers which flow through Spain, as the Douro, Tagus, 
Guadiana, and Minho. 

Portugal, like Spain, has long been one of the most despotic mo¬ 
narchies of Europe, and has generally shared in the vicissitudes which 
have attended the Spanish nation. 

Agriculture, manufactures, and commerce are at a low ebb in Por¬ 
tugal, and are conducted with the least possible spirit of enterprise. 
Fish may be caught in abundance on the coast; but the salt, of which 
Portugal furnishes a good supply, is not used for curing them, so that 
large quantities of salt fish are imported. 

The chief article of export, from Portugal, is wine, of which that 
known by the name of Port is the most celebrated, besides which 
there is some trade in salt and wool. 

da ? Seville ? Cadiz ? Gibraltar ? What of the Balearic Islands ? What 
towns ? 

What is the general character of Portugal ? What of the mountains and 
valleys ? What of the rivers ? What of the political condition of Portugal ? 
What of the agriculture, manufactures, and commerce ? Fishery ? W’hat of 





PORTUGAL. 


151 


The Portuguese are described as indolent, deceitful, cowardly, and 
at the same time fierce and revengeful. The peasantry, however, have 
been pronounced a fine race of people. 

The established and exclusive religion in Portugal is the Roman 
Catholic, and the body of the people are said to be greatly under the in¬ 
fluence of the priesthood. 

Lisbon, the capital, [Fig. 

117,] situated near the 
mouth of the Tagus, rises 
directly from the water, 
crowning the summits of 
several hills, and present¬ 
ing a magnificent appear¬ 
ance, but the streets are 
narrow and ill paved, and 
it appears to be the most 
noisome and filthy city on 
the face of the earth. 

Lisbon derives an awful 
interest from the ruins left Lisbon, Fig. 117. 

by the great earthquake of 

1775, in w hich six thousand houses were thrown down, thirty thousand inha¬ 
bitants killed, and a conflagration kindled which spread still wider destruction. 
Population, 200,000. 

Coimbra is beautifully situated on the side of a hill which rises above the 
river Mondejo, but tl e streets are narrow, dirty, and very steep. Population, 
12 , 000 . 




Oporto, Fig. 118. 


Oporto, the ancient capital, [Fig. 118,] and still the second city in the king¬ 
dom, is situated near the mouth of the Douro, The modern town is well 
built, especially when compared with the other cities of Spain and Portugal. 
Population, 70,000. 

articles of export ? What is the religion of Portugal ? What of Lisbon ? 
What effects of the great earthquake of 1775 ? What of Coimbra ? Oporto ? 





















152 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Map of Europe .—How is Portugal bounded 1 What cape at the 
southwestern extremity ? Can you describe the river Tagus ? Douro 1 
Guadiana ? What is the capital of Portugal? Where is Lisbon 
situated? Coimbra? Oporto? Visen? 


ITALY. 

The surface of Italy is, perhaps, the most finely diversified of 
any country on the globe. It contains lofty mountains and the 
most beautiful plains in Europe. All the chains of the Alps range 
along the frontier, and the Apennine is a chain purely Italian. 

Of the Italian rivers, the Po can alone be ranked among the 

g reat rivers of Europe. The Tiber, the Arno, and other cele- 
rated rivers, have only a short course, and are small in size. 

The Italians cultivate, with more or less 
success, the sugar-cane, rice, the custard apple, 
and date; and by the side of the plane, poplar, 
and willow grow the orange, citron, olive, 
myrtle, [Fig. 119,] and other similar produc¬ 
tions. 

Of the native animals, wolves are still 
found among the Apennines, and the wild boar 
in the forests of Calabria. The buffalo was 
once numerous, but is now rarely, if ever, seen. 
The domestic animals, as sheep and goats, are 
of fine breeds. 

Myrtle, Fig. 119. Many birds found in Italy are also common 

in the northern coasts of Africa, and the im¬ 
mense flocks of quails which sometimes pass to the northern parts of 
Italy, by the way of Sicily, are truly surprising. 

Among the insects of Italy, the tarantula spider and the silk-worm 
are equally celebrated. A small species of scorpion is also met with, 
which is very venomous. 

The objects of agriculture in Italy are nu¬ 
merous and important. Wheat, maize, and 
rice, [Fig. 120,] are cultivated with success. 
Silk is a universal staple, and of a very fine 
quality. The vine finds almost everywhere 
a favourable situation, but the wines of Na¬ 
ples and Sicily are the best. 

Manufactures, once so flourishing in Italy, 
have greatly declined, and though the silk, 
cotton, and woollen manufactures still exist, 
the articles produced are few and coarse. The 
pottery of Naples, and the Leghorn hats 
of Tuscany, are of fine quality, and have a 
high reputation. 

What is the general character of Italy ? What chains of mountains ? What 
of the Italian rivers ? What objects of cultivation ? What native animals ? 
Domestic animals ? What of the birds ? bisects ? What of the agriculture ? 








ITALY. 


153 


The only important minerals are iron, copper, and sulphur. Several 
species of beautiful marble are found, among which that of Canaro is 
most celebrated. 

The commerce of Italy is in a very low state. The exports consist 
chiefly of raw materials, of which the leading articles are silk, olive 
oil, almonds, raisins, hemp, barilla, sulphur, and Tuscan hats. The 
staple imports are salt fish, with iron, lead, hardware, and manufac¬ 
tured goods, from England and France. 

The people of Italy are, in some respects, the most polished and re¬ 
fined of any in the world, and even the lower ranks share, in some 
degree, the refined tastes and manners of their superiors. The pea¬ 
santry are a poor, quiet, orderly, and contented race, but the inhabit¬ 
ants of the great cities seem to combine the characters of citizens, 
beggars, and bandits. 

Religion still forms a prominent feature in Italy, the centre of that 
spiritual dominion which, for so many ages, held unbounded sway 
over Europe, 'fhe Pope, as spiritual head of the Catholic church, 
still maintains a splendid establishment. 

In literature and science the world is deeply indebted to Italy; and 
the fine arts, especially painting, sculpture, and music, have attained a 
splendour quite unrivalled in any modern country. 

Italy is chiefly divided into five great portions: the Ecclesiastical 
States, Tuscany, Austrian Italy, ana the Kingdom of Sardinia. 

THE ECCLESIASTICAL STATES. 

The Ecclesiastical States have lost the importance they once 
possessed, but as they contain Rome, with all its stupendous 
monuments of the ancient grandeur of Italy, they excite an in- 



Rome, Fig. 121. 


Manufactures ? Minerals ? Commerce ? What is the character and condi¬ 
tion of the people ? What of literature and science ? What divisions ? 

7* 
















154 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OP GEOGRAPHY. 


terest superior to that of any other of these celebrated regions. 
Population, 2,600,000. 

Rome, [Fig. 121,] the capital of the Ecclesiastical States and of Italy, holds 
enslirined, as it were, all the sublimest monuments of history and antiquity, 
and contains the most perfect works in architecture, painting, and sculpture, 
in both ancient and modern ages. Population, 150,000. 

Of the ancient edifices, many retain only their rude foundations, and others 
have been so shattered that their original form cannot now be traced. The 
Pantheon and Coliseum remain nearly entire, and the column of Trajan, and 
that of Antonine, are magnificent examples of this species of edifice. The 
triumphal arch of Constantine is the loftiest and noblest of the kind, and in 
the purest style of architecture. 

Of the modern edifices, foremost among the churches of Rome and of the 
world, stands St. Peter’s, [Fig. 122.] On its site has always been the Church 



St. Peter’s Church, Fig. 122. 


of Rome, erected by Constantine, and rendered sacred by containing the ashes 
of the apostles, from whom the bishops of Rome claimed their descent and 
authority. 

Bologna, next to Rome, is by far the most important city in the Ecclesias¬ 
tical States. Its university, once said to have contained ten thousand students, 
and its school of painting have raised it to distinction as a seat of learning and’ 
art. Population, 65,000. 

The little republic of San Marino, surrounded by the Ecclesiastical States, 
has retained its independence for thirteen centuries. The army consists of 
sixty men, and the whole population of the republic is about 7000. It is under 
the protection of the Pope. 

What is the present condition of the Ecclesiastical States ? What of Rome ? 
Its ancient edifices ? Modern edifices ? What of Bologna ? The republic 
of San Marino ? 

































ITALY. 


155 


TUSCANY. 

The Duchy of Tuscany ranks next to the Roman states as 
the theatre of great historical events, and even surpasses Rome 
herself, as the seat of modern learning. Population, 1,175,000. 


Florence, the capital, 
[Fig. 123,] is a delightful 
city, situated in the valley 
of the Arno, which forms 
one continued interchange 
of groves and gardens, en¬ 
closed by hills and distant 
mountains. Population, 
80,000. 

Leghorn is almost the 
only modern and prosper¬ 
ous town in die Tuscan 
territory. It is well built, 
and ranks as the first 
commercial city in Italy, 
being the centre of Medi¬ 
terranean commerce. Po¬ 
pulation, 66,000. 



Florence, Fig. 123. 


AUSTRIAN ITALY. 


Austrian Italy, also called the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, 
consists of the great plain of the river Po, bordered on one side 
by the highest range of the Alps, and on the other by those of 
the Apennines. Population, 4,500,000. 



Milan is a noble city, which ranks almost as the modern capital of Italy. 
Its situation, in the middle of a rich and beautiful plain, watered by the Po, 
at the point where the great canals meet, and on the high road to Germany 
by the lakes Maggiore and Como, render it, as it were, the key to the north¬ 
ern part of the kingdom. 

Population, 151,000. 

. Venice, [Fig. 124,] 
though now reduced to a 
secondary rank as it re¬ 
gards Milan, is a more 
celebrated and more beau¬ 
tiful city. The church 
of St. Mark’s rivals, in 
splendour, any edifice in 
Europe, and the Ralto, a 
bold marble arch thrown 
over the most magnificent 
part of the great canal, ex¬ 
cites ‘universal admira¬ 
tion. Population, 101,000. 10 . 

The Venetian territory Venl « e . Fl S- 124 

can boast several renown- 


What of the Duchy of Tuscany ? What of Florence ? Leghorn ? 

Of what does Austrian Italv consist? Whatof Milan? Venice!* Thechurch 
of St Mark’s ? The Rialto*? What of Padua ? Verona ? Mantua ? 














156 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


ed cities. Padua is said to have attained considerable magnitude before the 
existence of Rome ; population, 35,000. Verona is renowned for its amphi¬ 
theatre, the largest remaining, except the Coliseum at Rome; population, 
48,000. 

Among the other cities of Lombardy, Mantua, the birthplace of Virgil, 
takes the lead. It is still large, and forms one of the strongest fortresses of 
Italy. Population, 25,000. 


PARMA. 

The duchies of Parma, Placentia ? and Guastalla have been 
formed into a state for Maria Louisa, ex-empress of France. 
They abound in the richest pastures, from which is produced 
the most celebrated cheeses, to which Parma gives its name. 
Population, 440,OCX). 

The city of Parma, on a small river of the same name, is large, populous, 
airy, and clean. Population, 30,000. 


MODENA. 

Modena is a fine, though small domain, composed of a rich 
plain, at the foot of the Apennines. Population, 350,000. 

The city of Modena is extremely handsome, without any objects peculiarly 
Striking. Population, 27,000. 


SARDINIA. 

The kingdom of Sardinia consists of four distinct parts: 
Piedmont, Genoa, Savoy, and the island of Sardinia. Popula¬ 
tion, 3,831,000. 

Turin, in Piedmont, maintains its place among the most beautiful 
cities of Italy. It is situated on the river Po, and surrounded by an amphi¬ 
theatre of vine-covered hills. Population, 114,000. 

Genoa, surnamed the Superb, presents only the shadow of her former great¬ 
ness. Her navigators were of a peculiarly bold and adventurous character, 
and this w r as the native city of Christopher Columbus. Now she ranks below 
Leghorn as a port. Population, 80,000. 

The island of Sardinia is one of the least valuable portions of the kingdom, 
though few regions exceed it in natural fertility. 

Cagliari, the principal city on the island, has considerable trade, but is 
crowded, ill built, and ill paved. Population, 27,000. 

NAPLES. 

The kingdom of Naples, or, as it is called, the Two Sicilies, 
the most considerable division of Italy for wealth and popula¬ 
tion, includes the southern extremity of Italy and the island of 
Sicily. Population, 6,000,000. 


What of Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla ? What of the city of Parma ? 
What of Modena ? The city of Modena ? 

Of w hat does the kingdom of Sardinia consist ? What of Turin ? Genoa ? 
What of the island of Sardinia ? Cagliari ? 


ITALY. 


157 


I Naples [Fig. 125] is 
| the largest city in Italy, 
and fully maintains its 
place among the most 
beautiful European capi¬ 
tals. Taken collectively, 

Naples presents to the sea 
an immense line of lofty 
edifices, forming a com¬ 
manding feature in the 
matchless landscape. Po¬ 
pulation, 354,000. 

The bay of Naples, oc¬ 
cupying a circuit of six¬ 
teen miles, everywhere 
bounded by vineyards, Naples, Fig. 125. 

hills, woods, convents, and 

villages, composes the most splendid feature which nature presents to the hu¬ 
man eye. 

The environs of Naples present all that is most beautiful, with all that is 
most terrible in nature. Vesuvius, about eight miles from Naples, with an 
arm of the bay interposing, rears its majestic cone, the only volcanic moun¬ 
tain on the continent of Europe, and one of the most active in the world. 

Sicily, the finest and most beautiful island in Europe, forms 
a valuable portion of the kingdom of Naples. It rises into the 
lofty height of Etna, which strikes admiration and terror by the 
streams of volcanic fire which issue from it. 

Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is a spacious and handsome city, containing 
the cathedral, a large ancient edifice, and the palace of the viceroy, which is 
a splendid building. Population, 168,000. 

Messina, though smaller, is almost equal in importance to Palermo, since 
from it is carried on almost all the commerce of the island. The city is 
beautifully situated on a bay, enclosed by lofty hills. Population, 60,000. 

MALTA. 

Malta, [Fig. 126,] 
an island in the Medi¬ 
terranean, about fifty- 
four miles south of 
Sicily, belongs more 
to Italy than any other 
country. It is cele¬ 
brated for the strength 
of its fortifications, 
and now belongs to 
Great Britain. 

The inhabitants of 
Malta and the little View of Malta, Fig. 126. 

island of Goza, near 

What does the kingdom of Naples include ? What of the city of Naples j* 
The bay of Naples ? The environs of Naples ? What of the island of Sicily ? 

























158 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


it, are industrious, and notwithstanding the barrenness of the 
soil, raise abundance of grain, cotton, and excellent fruits. 
Malta contains about 100,000, and Goza about 9,000 inha¬ 
bitants. 

Lavalette, the capital, and port of Malta, forms an admirable naval station, 
deriving great importance from its position in the heart of the Mediter¬ 
ranean. 


Map of Europe. —How is Italy bounded ? Can you describe the Ap- 
ennine Mountains ? The Alps ? The river Po ? Where is the is¬ 
land of Sicily? Malta? Sardinia? The Lipari Islands? The Gulf 
of Genoa ? Bay of Taranto ? The Strait of Bonifacio ? Cape Spar- 
tivento ? 

How is Sardinia bounded? What is the capital of Sardinia? 
Where is Turin situated? Genoa? Cagliari? How is Austrian 
Italy bounded ? Where is Milan? Mantua? Venice? Padua? Ve¬ 
rona? Trent? How is Parma bounded? Where is the city of 
Parma? How is Tuscany bounded ? Where is Leghorn ? Florence ? 
Piombino ? How are the Pope’s Dominions, or Ecclesiastical States 
bounded ? Where is Rome? Bologna? San Marino? How is the 
kingdom of Naples bounded? Where is Mount Vesuvius ? Mount 
Etna? Where is the city of Naples? Messina? Palermo? Syra¬ 
cuse ? Taranto ? Otranto ? 


SWITZERLAND. 

Switzerland forms a mountainous territory in the centre of 
Europe, occupying the west of the great chain of the Alps 
which divides France and Germany from Italy. 

The surface of Switzerland, traversed as it is by the highest 
ranges in Europe, consists almost wholly of mountains. Of 
these, Mont Blanc stands at the head, being the loftiest moun¬ 
tain in Europe. 

The great rivers which water the surrounding regions, as the 
Rhine and the Rhone, rise in the mountains of Switzerland. 
The lakes, particularly those of Geneva and Constance, form a 
beautiful feature in Swiss scenery. 

Switzerland exhibits several native animals. Among these the ibex, 
with its huge horns, the chamois, the Alpine marmot, and the bearded 
vulture, are the most singular. 

Mt. Etna ? Palermo ? Messina ? What of the island of Malta ? The in¬ 
habitants ? Lavalette ? 

What does Switzerland form ? What is the character of its surface ? What 
of the rivers ? Lakes ? What native animals ? What of the Alpine spaniel ? 



SWITZERLAND. 


159 


The Alpine spaniel [Fig. 127 ] is pre¬ 
served by the humane monks of St. Bernard 
with great care. These beautiful dogs are 
kept for the preservation of those unfortunate 
travellers who are so often lost in crossing 
the pathless snows of these dangerous moun¬ 
tains. 

Switzerland now consists of twenty-two 
distinct states, called cantons, each of which 
has a particular constitution of its own, though 
all are united by the common tie of the fede¬ 
ral government. 

Switzerland, from its mountainous character, must, of necessity, be 
a poor country, but human industry has been employed in extracting 
from it the utmost possible amount of produce. 

Wheat, maize, barley, rye, and potatoes are produced only in fa¬ 
vourable situations, and the country is in a great measure indebted to 
the neighbouring countries for a supply of grain, but its chief wealth 
consists in its luxuriant pastures. 

Manufactures of cotton goods are carried on to some extent in Swit¬ 
zerland, and the manufacture of watches is an important feature of na¬ 
tional industry. 

The commerce of Switzerland, from its inland situation, is very 
limited, and consists chiefly of the exchange of cattle for grain and fine 
goods. The great road over the Simplon, though constructed by Na¬ 
poleon for military purposes, produces very important commercial ad¬ 
vantages. 

As to national character, the Swiss enjoy the reputation of being a 
plain, honest, brave, and simple people. 

The religion of Switzerland is divided between the Protestant and 
Catholic, in nearly equal proportions. 

Learning, though not generally diffused throughout Switzerland, has 
been cultivated with great ardour at Geneva and Zurich, both of 
which have a character 
more decidedly intellec¬ 
tual than most European 
cities. 

Geneva, [Fig. 128,] the 
largest city in Switzerland, 
on the lake Leman, also 
called Lake of Geneva, is 
not handsome or well 
built, its streets being nar¬ 
row, dirty, and ill paved, 
though the houses are four 
or five stories high! Po¬ 
pulation, 26,000. 

Berne, generally consi- Geneva, Fig. 128. 




How many cantons in Switzerland ? What of the fertility of the country ? 
What are the productions i* What of the manufactures ? Commerce . What 










160 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


dered the capital of Switzerland, is situated on a plain above and nearly sur¬ 
rounded by the river Aar, and contains many handsome public and private 
edifices. Population, 18,000. 

Map of Europe .—How is Switzerland bounded ! What chain of 
mountains ! Can you describe the Rhine ! The Rhone ! Where is 
the Lake of Geneva! Constance! What is the capital of Switzer¬ 
land ! Where is Berne situated ! Geneva! Constance ! Basle ! 


GERMANY. 

Germany is an extensive country, situated in the centre of 
Europe, and exercising a most powerful influence on the politi¬ 
cal affairs of that division of the globe. 

In its surface Germany presents, in different parts, remarka¬ 
ble contrasts. Its southern border is formed by the Alps, the 
loftiest and steepest chain in Europe, from which branches de¬ 
scend and cover a great part of the interior of the country, but 
the whole north forms a part of that extensive plain which 
reaches from the Bay of Biscay to the frontier of Asia. 

The greatest rivers in Europe roll through Germany, as the 
Danube, the Rhine, the Oder, and the Weser. 

The vegetable productions of Germany do not present any thing so 
striking as to distinguish them from those met with in the adjacent 
countries. 

The lofty mountains and vast forests of Germany give shelter to a 
larger number of the native European quadrupeds tnan is to be found 
elsewhere. Bears were once very numerous; the wild boar is not un¬ 
common, and wolves still less so. The chamois, once common in 
Corniola and the Carpathian mountains, is now seldom seen. The 
cinereous vulture is now principally found in the lofty mountains of 
Hungary. 

Of the domestic animals, the horses and oxen are generally of infe¬ 
rior breeds, but the breeds of sheep are good, and those of Saxony and 
Bohemia produce very fine wool. 

The political system of Germany is very complicated. The Ger¬ 
manic body, as represented in the diet, which consists of deputies 
from each of the states, professes to regulate all the foreign relations 
of the empire, and the disputes which may arise between one state and 
another, without interfering with the internal administration of any. 

Agriculture, throughout Germany, is carried on with great diligence. 
Of the various kinds of grain, wheat, rye, and oats are generally culti- 

is the character of the people ? What of the religion ? Learning ? W T hat of 
Geneva ? Berne ? 

What is Germany ? What are its general features ? What of its rivers ? 
Its vegetable productions ? What of its native animals ? The domestic ani¬ 
mals ? What of the political system of Germany ? What of its agriculture ? 



GERMANY. 161 

vated, and maize abounds in the extreme southern districts. The vine 
also flourishes, but the wine produced is not of the best quality. 

The forests of Germany are very noble, and are supposed to cover 
not less than a third of its surface. Large quantities of timber are 
floated down the rivers to the Netherlands and Britain, and pot and 
pearl ashes are made in the forests. 

The manufactures of Germany have greatly declined, since the su¬ 
perior skill and machinery of Great Britain enables her to produce 
better articles, at a lower price. The linen manufacture, however, 
still flourishes, and many fine fabrics are produced. Earthenware, 
porcelain, and glass are produced in great perfection. 

Mining is one of the sources of wealth in which Germany may be 
said to surpass every country in Europe. Metals and minerals are pro¬ 
duced in great variety. They consist of gold, silver, mercury, iron of 
excellent quality, lead and tin, unrivalled except in Great Britain, with 
a profusion of salt and coal. 

The commerce of Germany is extensive, but not equal to her ad¬ 
vantages arising from her situation in the centre of Europe and the 
civilized world, which probably arises from the want of unity in com¬ 
mercial regulations among so great a number of small states. 

The exports of Germany consist chiefly of her agricultural produc¬ 
tions and the produce of the mines, and in return she imports nearly all 
the luxuries of life; the manufactures of England, the wines of France, 
the sweets and the aromatics of the east and the w^est. 

The inhabitants of Germany are distinguished into two races, the 
German and Sclavonic; the Germans are estimated at thirty millions, 

I and the Sclavonians at six millions. 

The social state of Germany exhibits two entirely distinct portions; 
i the nobles and the common people. The class of nobles has produced 
. many very eminent men, and the character of the body of Germans is 
' that of a laborious and hardy people, but their habits are simple and 
domestic, and plain honesty and fidelity mark their transactions. 

With respect to religion, Germany has been the scene of the great- 
\ est revolution in modern times. Within it the Reformation sprung up, 
t though a majority of the Germans still adhere to the Roman Catholic 
church. 

In literature and science Germany has been particularly distin- 
j guished, and is, perhaps, the most learned and reading country in the 
I world. The universities, and other institutions for learning, are very 
numerous. 


AUSTRIAN EMPIRE. 


The empire of Austria is not only the first power in Germany, 
but by its possessions, both within and without, has long ranked 
among the foremost states in the general system of Europe. 


1 Productions ? What of the forests } What do the forests produce ? What 
I of the manufactures ? Mining ? What minerals ? What of the commerce ? 

Exports ? Imports ? What races of people ? Wliat of the social state ? What 
i religions ? What of the literature and science ? 






162 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The Austrian dominion in Germany are Upper and Lower 
Austria, with the Alpine regions of Styria, Corinthia, and the 
Tyrol; in Poland, several provinces united in the kingdom of 
Galicia; the entire kingdom of Hungary; and in Italy several 
territories, united under the name of the Lombardo-Venetian 
Kingdom. The population of the whole empire is 32,000,000. 

If we except the mountain borders, the whole empire enjoys the 
happiest climate, and is fitted to produce grain of different kinds, wine, 
silk, and other valuable productions, in the highest perfection. 

Great obstructions stand in the way of Austrian foreign commerce, 
for there is no seaport, except at the head of the Adriatic, and the great 
rivers afterwards nave a long course through foreign states. 

None of the Austrian states are manufacturing countries, though in 
all those north of the Alps linen is fabricated to a great extent. 

The mineral treasures of the Austrian dominion are equal, or su¬ 
perior, to that of any country in Europe. The salt mines of Poland 
are eqiial to any in the world, besides which, iron, copper, silver, gold, 
quicksilver, lead, and tin are found in various places. 

Though a maritime force is ill suited to the situation of Austria, she 
has formed a small navy at Venice. 

The government of Austria is an hereditary monarchy, almost en¬ 
tirely absolute. 



Vienna, Fig. 129. 


Vienna, [Fig. 129,] the 
capital of Austria, is situ¬ 
ated on the southern bank 
of the Danube, not more 
than twenty miles from 
the frontier of Hungary. 
The houses are massive 
and lof y, and the city is 
rendered very handsome 
by a great number of pa¬ 
laces. Population, 290.000. 

The cathedral of St. Ste¬ 
phen’s is the largest church 
in Germany, and unites all 
that is lofty, imposing, and 
sublime in Gothic archi¬ 
tecture. 


Gratz, the capital of Styria, situated on the river Mur, is a handsome, 
bustling, prosperous town, which contains many houses which may be called 
palaces. Population, 30,000. 

Inspruck, capital of the Tyrol, is an ancient, well-built place, commanding 
the valley of the Iun, and the most direct passage from Germany into Italy. 

Prague, the capital of Bohemia, is situated in the very middle of the great 
plain ot that country. Its bridge, its old Gothic cathedral, decaying palaces. 


What of the Austrian Empire ? Of what countries does it consist ? What 
of the climate and productions ? What obstructions to commerce ? What of 
the manufactures ? What of the mineral treasures ? What of the maritime 
force ? What is the form of government ? What of Vienna ? The catlie- 













GERMANY. 163 

and the old style of its architecture, unite to give it an ancient and grand ap¬ 
pearance. Population, 108,000. 

Lemberg, the capital of Galicia, is neither very large nor elegant. Its in¬ 
terior streets are narrow and old-fashioned, but it has four handsome suburbs. 
Population, 41,000. 

Presburg, formerly the capital of Hungary, has a few manufactures and 
some trade, chiefly in grain and wine, up and down the Danube. The houses 
and streets have a common appearance ; the suburbs can only boast a few pa¬ 
laces of the nobles. Population, 32,000. 

Buda and Pesth, separated by the Danube,form together much the most im¬ 
portant city in Hungary. Buda is now the seat of government, and consists 
chiefly of an extensive fortress, seated on a lofty rock; population, 27,000. 
Pesth, connected with Buda by a bridge of boats, is a larger and more important 
city, forming the centre of the inland trade of Hungary; population, 61,500. 

Map of Europe. —How is the Austrian Empire bounded ! What 
great chain of mountains in the north part ! In the south part ! Can 
you describe the river Danube ! The Save ! The Drave ! The Elbe ! 
The Po I What gulf on the south ! What is the capital of the Aus¬ 
trian Empire ! Where is Vienna situated ! Presburg ! Buda ! Pesth 1 
Prague! Olmutz! Lemberg! Varasdin! Trieste! Ragusa! Ca- 
taro ! What cities in Austrian Italy ! 


PRUSSIA. 

The parts of the Prussian Monarchy are so various and de¬ 
tached that it is difficult to connect them in a general view. In 
Germany she has Brandenberg, nearly all Silesia, Pomerania, 
part of Saxony, Westphalia, and several detached provinces on 
the Rhine. 

Beyond Germany she has the Duchies of East and West 
Prussia, from which she takes her name; in Switzerland she 
has Neufchatel; and in Poland the province of Posen. The po¬ 
pulation of the whole Prussian monarchy is about 13,000,000. 

The productions of this large country are as various as its different 
parts. Many portions are very fertile, and produce abundance of grain. 

Prussia is not, on the whole, a manufacturing country, though the 
linens of Silesia are highly distinguished. Its woollen manufactures 
are also extensive, and Berlin has some fine fabrics of glass and por¬ 
celain. 

The constitution of Prussia has long been that of a pure military 
monarchy, though the government has generally been administered 
with a view to the general welfare of the country. 

The Prussian army, its high discipline and fine condition, have 
always been the pride of the monarchy, but a maritime force has never 

dral ? What of Gratz ? Inspruck ? Prague ? Lemberg ? Presburg ? Buda 

and Pesth ? # 

What states does the Prussian monarchy include ? \\ hat portions out of 

Germany ? What of the productions ? What of the manufactures ? What 
of the government? The army? What of Berlin? Its manufactures? 







164 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


been an object of attention in Prussia, though she possesses a con¬ 
siderable extent of sea coast. 

Berlin, the capital of the Prussian monarchy, is one of the finest cities in 
Europe, and being the recent and studied creation of an absolute monarch, 
it is formed on a regular plan, and on a liberal scale of expenditure. Popu¬ 
lation, 225,000. 

Berlin is a busy city, carrying on various manufactures of woollen, linen, 
and silk, with a royal manufactory of porcelain. 

The trade is extensive, as Berlin communicates, by the river Spree and its 
canals, both with the Elbe and Oder. Its university 1 anks second to none in 
Germany, and it also contains several royal academies of science and the fine 
arts. 

Stettin, the capital of Pomerania, is not only one of the strongest fortresses, 
but one of the most flourishing commercial cities in the Prussian monarchy. 
Population, 25,000. 

Breslaw, the capital of Silesia, is the centre of the whole trade of the pro¬ 
vince, maintaining internal communications Avith Hamburg, Stettin, and 
Dantzic, and contains a flourishing university. Population, 87,000. 

Magdeburg, the capital of Prussian Saxony, has always been considered as 
one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, and is celebrated in history. Its 
works are of immense extent, bounded on most of its circuit by the river Elbe. 
Population, 32,000. 

The chief towns of Prussian Westphalia are Munster, Minden, and Arens- 
burg. Munster is still a flourishing place ; population, 18,000. Minden lies 
on the Weser, and carries on a considerable trade. Arensburg, once the seat 
of a count of that name, has now greatly declined. 

Cologne, in the province of the Rhine, one of the most ancient cities of Ger¬ 
many, was formerly an imperial city, and is still the seat of a great trade, being 
the principal medium of intercourse between Holland and Germany. Popu¬ 
lation, 50,000. 

Coblentz is situated on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, is a very 
ancient city, once the frequent residence of the emperors. The situation is 
delightful, and it is a considerable depot for the Rhenish and Moselle wines, 
brought down for embarkation. Population, 11,000. 

Konigsberg, the capital of East Prussia, and formerly of the Prussian mo¬ 
narchy, is well situated on the Pregel. The walls are nine miles in circuit, 
but they no longer render it a strong place. Konigsberg Avas formerly an 
eminent Hanse town, and still carries on a very extensive trade. Population, 
55,000. 

Dantzic, the grand emporium of Poland, stands undoubtedly foremost 
among the towns of West Prussia. It lies on the western branch of the Vis¬ 
tula, immediately before its entrance into the sea. The commerce of Dantzic 
is very great. Population, 53,000. 

Posen, bearing the title of a Grand Duchy, is now the principal port of Po¬ 
land, annexed to Prussia. Posen, the capital, is a prosperous tOAvn on the 
Wartha, well and regularly built, with broad streets and a spacious market 
place. 

Map of Europe .—How is Prussia bounded ] What island in the 
Baltic] Can you describe the Vistula] The Oder] Elbe] Rhine] 

Trade ? What of Stettin ? BreslaAv ? Magdeburg ? What chief towns in 
Prussian Westphalia ? What of Cologne ? Coblentz? Konigsburg ? Dantzic? 
Posen ? 


GERMANY. 


165 


What is the capital of Prussia 1 Where is Berlin 1 Konigsburg ? 
Dantzic 1 Stettin 1 Elbing! Thornl What cities on the Oder! 
On the Elbe! Where is Cologne! Munster! 


BAVARIA. 

Bavaria, long ranked as the second state in Germany, was 
once the successful rival of Austria, and, as such, saw her 
princes seated on the imperial throne. Population, 4,000,000. 

The king of Bavaria, in 1818, granted to his subjects a con¬ 
stitution which makes this rank among the limited monarchies. 

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, lies in an extensive plain on the Iser, and is 
a handsome city, full of well-built modern houses and edifices, with broad, 
well-paved streets. Population, 60,000. 

Augsburg, three centuries ago, outshone all the other cities of Bavaria, be¬ 
ing the chief seat of both merchants and nobles. It was then an almost im¬ 
pregnable fortress, but is now a somewhat active manufacturing town. 


Map of Europe .—How is Bavaria bounded ! What great river runs 
through it! What is the capital of Bavaria! Where is Munich 
situated ! Nuremberg ! 


SAXONY. 

Saxony always ranked as one of the most powerful German 
electorates until the ascendency gained by Prussia. Population, 
1,400,000. . , 

The government of Saxony is not quite absolute, but has old 
feudal states which must concur in making the laws and im¬ 
posing taxes. 

Dresden, the capital, though not one of the largest, is generally reckoned 
one of the most elegant of the German cities. It is finely situated, and the 
royal palace is of great extent. Population, 54,000. 

Leipsic claims distinguished notice as the grand centre of the commerce, 
not only for Saxony, but for all Germany, and the scene which it presents of 
bustle and business has no parallel on the continent. Population, 30,000. 


Map of Europe .—How is Saxony bounded! What great river 
flows through it! What is the capital of Saxony ! Where is Dres¬ 
den 1 Leipsic! 


What of Bavaria formerly P What of the government P What of Munich ? 


Augsburg P 

What of the former influence of Saxony ? 
of Dresden ? Leipsic p 


What of the government ? What 







166 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


WIRTEMBERG. 

Wirtemberg, originally a secondary German state, owed its 
aggrandizement and its Kingly rank to Napoleon, and has been 
allowed to retain both. Population, 1,520,000. 

The king of Wirtemberg has granted a constitution, which 
makes it rank among the best regulated limited monarchies. 

Stutgard, the capital, is situated on an extensive plain, seven hundred feet 
above the level of the sea, and surrounded on three sides by mountains. It is 
large and dull, but die streets are broad and well paved. 

Map of Europe .—How is Wirtemberg bounded 1 "What is the capi¬ 
tal 1 Where is Stutgard situated 1 


HANOVER. 

Hanover belongs to the reigning family of Great Britain, but 
the Briton has not the right of a Hanoverian, nor the Hano¬ 
verian the right of a Briton. The constitution is similar to 
the limited monarchies of the other secondary German states. 
Population, 1,550,000. 

Hanover, the capital, is a plain, ordinary town, situated in the midst of a 
wide, sandy plain, and is neither very large nor contains any thing very re¬ 
markable. Population, 25,000. 

Gottingen possesses great interest as the seat of one of the principal Pro¬ 
testant universities of Germany, which is supported by the Hanoverian go¬ 
vernment. widi an almost unrivalled liberality. Population, 9,000. 

Map of Europe .—How is Hanover bounded 1 What is the capital 1 
Where is Hanover situated 1 


SMALL GERMAN STATES. 

The Grand Duchy of Baden consists of the long valley of the 
Rhine from Basle to Manheim. Population, 1,130,000. 

Carlsrliue, as a capital, is small, being supported almost entirely by die 
court of the grand duke, which gives it a very lively aspect, but it has only the 
appearance of a large village. Population, 12,000. 

Hesse Cassel borders on Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria, and a crowd of 
little states. Population, 592,000. 

Cassel, the capital, extending along the river Fulda, is the scene of consi¬ 
derable trade. Population, 25,000. 

Who gave Wirtemberg its kingly rank ? What is the form of government ? 
What of Stutgard ? 

To what reigning family does Hanover belong? What of Hanover, the 
capital ? Gottingen ? 

Of what does the Grand Duchy of Baden consist ? What of Carlsrhue ? On 
what does Hesse Cassel border ? What of Cassel ? Of what is Hesse Darm- 





HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. 


167 


Hesse Darmstadt is composed of two portions, reaching 1 along the 
Rhine, from Prussia to the Bavarian frontier. Population, 700,000. 

Darmstadt, the capital, is not the most remarkable city, and much greater 
lustre is derived from Mentz, that great imperial city, renowned for the im¬ 
mense strength and extent of its fortifications. Population, 15,000. 

The Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar stands chiefly on the Thurin- 
gian forest; population, 228,000. Mecklenburg is northeast of Ha¬ 
nover; population, 510,000. Brunswick is partly on the declivity of 
the Hartz Mountains, and part in the plain of Saxony; population, 
244,000. Oldenberg, on the Weser, west of Hanover, population, 
248,000, and Nassau, population, 348,000, situated on the Rhine and 
Mayne, are the remaining German states worthy of notice. 

The four free imperial cities of Germany, Hamburg, Lubec, Bremen, 
and Frankfort-on-the-Mayne, are the remnant of the Hanse towns and 
imperial cities, once so famous, and still continue members of the 
Germanic body. 

Hamburg, on the Elbe, is the most important commercial city of Germany, 
though it is not a well-built town, the streets being narrow and irregular. Po¬ 
pulation, 150,000. 

Lubec, on die river Trave,has its commerce impeded by the small depth of 
the river on which it is situated ; its commerce, however, is considerable. 

Bremen, at the mouth of the Weser, is enriched by the commerce of that 
important river. The city is situated on both sides of the river, and consists 
chiefly of narrow streets, bordered by high gloomy houses. Population, 
40,000. 

Frankfort-on-the-Mayne is an ancient and venerable city, the seat of the 
Germanic Diet. Its chief importance, however, is derived from being one of 
the great centres of German inland trade, its fares being only second to those 
of Leipsic. Population, 40,000. 


Map of Europe .—Where is Cassell Darmstadt? Brunswick? Ol¬ 
denberg ? Hamburg ? Bremen ? 


HOLLAND AND BELGIUM. 

The Netherlands, comprising now the two kingdoms of 
Holland and Belgium, form a territory possessing great natural 
advantages for industry and commerce. 

The union of the Batavian and Belgic Netherlands into one 
kingdom, though, in fact, only a renewal of that which existed 
at a former period, was suddenly terminated by a revolution of 
the Belgians in 1830. Holland includes ten, and Belgium eight 
provinces. Population of Belgium, 3,560,000. Population of 
Holland, 2,606,000. 

stadt composed ? What of Darmstadt ? Where is the Grand Duchy of Saxe- 
Weimar f Mecklenberg ? Brunswick ? Oldenberg ? Nassau ? Which are 
the four free imperial cities? What of Hamburg? Lubec? Bremen? 
Frankfort ? 

What do the Netherlands comprise ? What of the union of the Batavian 







168 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


In respect to surface, the northern parts, comprising the new 
kingdom of Holland, are mostly below the level to which the 
sea rises during high tides, and is preserved from being over¬ 
flowed by immense artificial embankments called dykes. The 
Belgic provinces are also flat, but not below the level of the 
sea. 

A limited monarchy was the constitution of the kingdom of 
the Netherlands, which has been continued both in Holland 
and Belgium since their separation. 

In the Belgic provinces agriculture is very carefully prosecuted, the 
whole country being cultivated like a garden. Holland is like a great 
meadow intersected by canals and traversed by groups of trees, and the 
objects of culture are almost entirely connected with pasturage. 

The manufactures, both of Holland and Belgium, are not°in a pros¬ 
perous state, and commerce also has greatly declined, though not in so 
remarkable a degree. 

Holland exports of its own produce butter, cheese, and the products 
of its fisheries. Belgium exports madder, vegetable oils, lace, lawn, 
and fine linen. 

The natural character of the Dutch is solid, steady, quiet, sober, and 
eagerly intent on the accumulation of wealth, which they seek rather 
by economy than speculation. 

The prevailing religion of Holland is Calvinism, while that of Bel- 

f ium is almost exclusively Roman Catholic, a difference which has 
een a chief cause of the rooted dislike entertained towards each 
other. 

Learning no longer boasts such names as Erasmus, Grotius, and 
Boerhaave, though education receives great attention, and there are cele¬ 
brated universities at Leyden and Utrecht in Holland, and at Ghent 
and Louvain in Belgium. 



Brussels, Fig. 130. 


Brussels, [Fig. 130,] 
the capital of Belgium, is 
one of the gayest and most 
elegant cities in Europe. 
The town hall is one of 
the most beautiful Gothic 
structures in Europe, 
adorned with a tower 
three hundred and forty- 
eight feet high. Popula¬ 
tion, 73,000. 

Antwerp is a noble city, 
containing numerous state- j 
ly buildings. The eathe- i 
oral, which occupied one 


and Belgic Netherlands ? What of the surface of Holland ? Of the Belgic 
provinces ? What of the political constitution ? What of the agriculture of | 
the Belgic provinces ? Of Holland ? What of the manufactures and com¬ 
merce ? Exports ? What of the national character ? Religion p Learn- < 
ing ? What of Brussels ? Antwerp ? Amsterdam ? The Hague ? 






POLAND. 


169 


hundred years in building, 
is celebrated over Europe. 

Its spire is 466 feet high, 
and extremely beautitul. 

Population, 65,000. 

Amsterdam, [Fig. 131,] 
the capital of Holland, is 
situated at the confluence 
of the river Amstel with 
the Zuyder Zee. The city 
is intersected with an im¬ 
mense number of canals, 
having drawbridges and 
sluices to regulate the 
height of the water. Po¬ 
pulation, 201,000. Amsterdam, Fig. 131. 

The Hague, though 

ranking only as a village, is, in fact, one of the handsomest cities in Europe. 
The streets and squares are well built, and bordered with fine walks and ave¬ 
nues of trees. It is one of the residences of the court, and contains two royal 
palaces. Population, 45,000. 

Map of Europe .—How is Holland bounded ? Where is Amsterdam 1 
How is Belgium bounded ? Where is Brussels 1 Antwerp ? 



POLAND. 

Poland is a large country, which, though it has been studi¬ 
ously expunged from the map of Europe, still claims to be con¬ 
sidered as a separate and distinct country. 

The surface of Poland forms a part of that immense unvaried 
plain which covers the northern portion of all the central Euro¬ 
pean countries. 

The rivers of Poland, as the Vistula, Neimen, Dwina, and 
Dneiper, are large, long, and navigable, being seldom obstructed 
by rocks or cataracts. 

The partition of Poland, justly regarded as one of the most iniqui¬ 
tous measures which have disgraced modern times, was completed in 
1792, by which the whole country was divided between Russia, Prus¬ 
sia, and Austria. 

The modem kingdom of Poland, created in 1815, comprises only a 
small, but fine and fertile portion of that once mighty monarchy. 

A representative constitution was granted by the emperor of Russia 
in his quality of king of Poland, but since the late disastrous insurrec¬ 
tion Poland has been again incorporated with the Russian empire. 

Agriculture is the principal occupation in Poland, and though con- 

What is Poland ? What of its surface ? What of the rivers ? What of 
the partition of Poland ? When was the modern kingdom of Poland created ? 
What of the form of government ? What of the agriculture ? Manufactures ? 











170 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


ducted in a rude form, abundant crops of wheat and rye are produced, 
of which large quantities are exported. 

Manufactures are generally in a very rude state, but in the new king¬ 
dom of Poland a considerable quantity of woollen cloth is made. 

The principal and almost only mineral of Poland is salt, the deposit 
of which, in the southern provinces, is the most copious in Europe, and 
the mines are more extensively worked than in any other country in the 
world. . . . . 

The commerce of Poland is carried on with some activity; the 
grain and timber are transported along the rivers to the ports on the 
Baltic, for which manufactured goods and other articles are received in 
return. 

Society in Poland consists of the nobles and peasants, without any 
intermediate class. The nobles, in the eye of foreigners, have always 
formed the people of Poland. They are brave, frank, hospitable 

and gay. In religion, 
the Poles are Roman 
Catholics. 

Warsaw, the capital of 
Poland, is finely situated 
on the Vistula. The whole 
city consists of one long 
street, with others branch¬ 
ing from it, but these are 
narrow and dirty. The 
new town is built in better 
style, and the government 
palace, [Fig. 132,] and the 
Government Palace, Fig. 132. palace of the minister of fi¬ 

nance, are splendid build¬ 
ings. Population, 150,000. 



REPUBLIC OF CRACOW. 

The Republic of Cracow consists of that ancient and venera¬ 
ble capital, with a very limited extent of territory. Population, 
95,000. 

Cracow is decidedly a Catholic city, and contains eighty-seven monasteries 
and one hundred and sixty-four nunneries. The cathedral is remarkable for 
the tomb of St. Stanislaus, the monuments of Sobieski and Kosciusko, and 
other venerated mausoleums; population, 25,000. Wieliczca, about eight 
miles from Cracow, is celebrated for its immense salt mines. 


Map of Europe .—What is the capital of the kingdom of Poland 1 
'Where is Warsaw situated 1 Plotsk? Lublin 1 Cracow 1 


What important mineral ? What of the commerce ? State of society ? What 
of Warsaw ? 

Of what does the Republic of Cracow consist ? What of the city of Cra¬ 
cow ? Where are the celebrated salt mines ? 


















DENMARK. 


171 


DENMARK. 


Denmark consists of an extensive peninsula, called Jutland, 
shooting out from the northwest corner of Germany, and a clus¬ 
ter of large islands to the east of that peninsula, of which Zea¬ 
land is the principal. 

Denmark commands the only entrance by which the countries 
round the Baltic can transmit their products to the rest of Eu¬ 
rope. She therefore imposes a toll on all ships passing and re¬ 
passing the sound, from which a considerable revenue is de¬ 
rived. 

The surface of Denmark is nearly flat, and the islands in 
particular, in many places, are only a few feet above the level 
of the sea. 

The soil of Denmark is. frequently sandy or marshy, but it 
affords good pasturage, and is favourable to the production of the 
coarser kinds of gram. 


Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, are appendages to the 
Danish crown. Iceland is remarkable for the volcanoes it contains, of 
which Mount Heckla is the most celebrated. The population of Ice¬ 
land is 50,000; of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, 11,000. 

The Geysers, or boiling springs, in Iceland, consist of fountains 
which throw up boiling water, spray, and vapour, sometimes to the 
height of two or three hundred feet. * (See Fig. 11.) 

The Iceland moss, [Fig. 133,] though it 
derives its name from that island, is equally 
common in other northern countries. It is 
celebrated for its medicinal properties, and is 
often used for food. 

The elk of Europe is higher than a horse; 
it does not gallop, but ambles along, the joints 
cracking go much at every step that it may be 
heard at some distance. 

Agriculture is conducted under considerable 
disadvantages of climate and soil. Barley, 
rye, and oats succeed best, and the rearing Iceland Moss, Fig-. 133. 
of cattle is an extensive branch of industry. 

The manufactures of Denmark are extremely rude, and her com¬ 
merce, though more prosperous, is not extensive. Both the whale and 
herring fisheries are carried on to some extent. 

The constitution of Denmark is that of an absolute monarchy, 
but the sway of the Danish princes has been exceedingly mild and po¬ 
pular. 



V Of what does Denmark consist ? "What command has she of the entrance to 
the Baltic ? What of the surface of Denmark ? The soil ? What appendages 
to the Danish monarchy ? What of the Geysers ? What of Iceland moss ? The 
elk ? What of the agriculture of Denmark ? Manufactures ? Commerce ? 







ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


172 

The Lutheran religion was early and zealously adopted in Denmark, 
and is established by law, though others are tolerated. 

Copenhagen, the capital, is situated on the island of Zealand, and has a 
circuit of five miles enclosed within its walls. The houses, with a few excep¬ 
tions, are built of brick, plastered over and painted in different colours. Po¬ 
pulation, 105,000. 

Elsinore, with its castle of Cronberg, is important from its situation on the 
sound, which, being commanded by the castle, enables the government to col¬ 
lect the sound dues. Population, 7,000. 


Maps of Europe, Atlantic Ocean, and North America .-—How is Den¬ 
mark bounded ! Where is the island of Zealand ! Where is the Skager 
Rack ! Cattegat ! What is the capital of Denmark I On what island 
is Copenhagen! Where is Slesvig'! Viborg! Aarhuus! Where 
are the Faroe Islands! Iceland ! What capes on the coast of Ice¬ 
land ! What celebrated mountain ! W^hat towns! Where is Green¬ 
land ! What cape on the southern extremity of Greenland! Where 
is Cape Desolation! Erie’s Bay! Melville Bay! Whale Sound! 
Operniwick! Black Hook ! Good Hope ! New Hernhut! 


SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 

Sweden and Norway, now united into one kingdom, form 
an extensive region stretching from the utmost verge of the 
temperate zone tar into the frozen range of the Arctic circle. 
Norway and Sweden are together called the Scandinavian Pe¬ 
ninsula. Sweden contains 2,77 1,000, and Norway 1,050,000 
inhabitants. 

The mountains consist chiefly of the lofty chain of the Do- 
frines, which were for ages a barrier between the hostile states 
of Sweden and Norway; some of its pinnacles rise to the height 
of 8000 feet. 

Rivers are numerous, but of no great length; the Glommen 
and Dranunen are the largest. Lakes also abound, of which 
the Wenner and Wetter are the most important. 

The bleak and inhospitable regions of Norway and Lapland are the 
chief metropolis of the reindeer, whose capacities are beautifully adapted 
to their situation. The reindeer moss alone renders the country ha¬ 
bitable by animals and man. 

Fisheries ? What is the political constitution of Denmark ? What religion 
established ? What of Copenhagen ? Elsinore ? 

What of Sweden and Norway ? What mountains ? What of the rivers and 
lakes ? What animals chiefly found in Norway and Lapland ? What of the 




SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 


173 


Birds are not numerous, but the Iceland fal¬ 
con [Fig. 134] rarely wanders into more 
temperate climates, and a gigantic owl is a pe¬ 
culiar inhabitant of the dreary solitudes of Lap- 
land. 

The constitution of Sweden is that of a limited 
monarchy, and one of the few in Europe which 
i has always preserved some portion of that repre¬ 
sentative system which had been formed in re- 
r mote ages. 

The Swedes are represented as an honest peo¬ 
ple, possessing an undaunted spirit of enterprise, 
and a strong love of freedom. 

The religion of Sweden is the Lutheran, and the people are com- 
i mended for their regularity in attending to religious duties. 

Sweden seems doomed to be a poor country. The most southern 
; districts are beyond the limits of that zone in which the finer grains 
and richer fruits come to maturity, and her scanty harvests consist en¬ 
tirely of rye and oats. 

The most valuable product of lands is formed from the vast forests 
with which nature has covered the greater part of the country. The 
i timber, tar, pitch, and turpentine, drawn from them, form the principal 
articles of export. # _ . 

The mines of Sweden are peculiarly rich and important. Its iron 
is the finest in the world, and widely diffused. Copper, also, is abun¬ 
dant, and the silver mines of Kongsberg, in Norway, are the richest 



Iceland Falcon, Fig. 
134. 




in Europe. . , 

The Norwegian fisheries are of some importance, and are carried on 
far to the north, near the Loffoden Islands. . 

The commerce of Sweden and Norway is derived chiefly from the 
products of the mines, and the demand in other countries for the tim¬ 
ber and other materials derived from the forests. 


Stockholm, [Fig. 135,] 
the capital of Sweden, is 
finely situated at the junc¬ 
tion of Lake Malar with 
the sea. White edifices, 
consisting of public and 
private palaces, churches, 
and other buildings, rising 
from an expanse of water, 
produce a beautiful effect. 
Population, 80,000. 

Upsal is the place, in 
Sweden, most venerable 
for its antiquity. It was 
long the residence of its 
kings, and has always been 



Stockholm, Fig. 135. 


birds ? What of the constitution of Sweden ? The religion ? WTat is the 
general character of Sweden ? What of the forests ? Mines ? Fisheries of 
Norway ? Commerce of Sweden and Norway ? What of Stockholm ? Upsal ? 














174 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


the chief seat of its religious and learned institutions. Upsal is celebrated for 
the iron mines in its vicinity, of which that of Danem ra is the most celebrated. 

Christiana, now considered the capital of Norway, is situated at the head 
of a long interior bay, carries on a great trade in timber, and also exports con¬ 
siderable iron. Population, 21,000. 

Bergen, also at the head of a long interior bay, has considerable commerce, 
derived chiefly from the products of the fishery of Loffoden. Population, 
19,000. 

Drontheim is situated on the shores of a winding bay, and is built wholly 
of wood. It has been seven times burned to the ground, yet the houses are 
handsome and ornamented with taste. Population, 9,000. 

The Loffoden Islands, on the coast of Norway, form a chain parallel to the 
coast from which they are separated by narrow channels, through which the 
tide rushes with tremendous velocity, by which the celebrated whirlpool, called 
the Maelstrom, is formed. 


LAPLAND. 

The vast region of Lapland is divided from Sweden and 
Norway by a line drawn across it, nearly coinciding with the 
polar circle, so as to render it almost entirely an Arctic region. 
Lapland consists partly of vast chains of mountains, some of 

which are 4000 feet 
high, while other ex¬ 
tensive tracts are 
level. 

The Laplanders are 
a peculiar race, short, 
stout and brown, with 
black hair and eyes, 
rendered weak by ex¬ 
posure to the smoke 
Laplanders travelling, Fig. 136. of their tents or the 

snow. 

The Laplanders [Fig. 136] travel from 
place to place in sledges made in the form of 
a boat, and drawn by reindeer, which are able 
to travel with great celerity. 

Almost the only winter food of the animal 
is the reindeer moss, [Fig. 137,] which the 
reindeer are so fond of, "that by scratching 
with their feet and digging with their antlers, 
they never fail to get at it, though covered 
with a great depth of snow. Without this 
food, both the reindeer and Laplander must 
perish. 

Christiana ? Bergen ? Drontheim ? What of the Loffoden Islands ? The 
Maelstrom ? 

What of Lapland ? What of its mountains ? What of the Laplanders ? 
How do they travel ? Of what does the food of the reindeer consist ? How 
does the animal procure it ? 















RUSSIA IX EUROPE. 


175 


Map of Europe. —How are Norway and Sweden bounded ! What 
mountain chain between the two countries ! Wliat gulf in the north 
i part of the Baltic Seal Where is North Cape! The Loffoden 
'• Islands! The Maelstrom! The Naze! Can you describe the river 
Tornea! Where is Lake Wenner! Lake Wetter! What is the 
1 capital of Sweden 1 Of Norway! Where is Stockholm! Bergen? 

' What towns on the coast north of Stockholm! Where is Upsal? 
I T ' Gottenberg! Carlskrona! Christianstad ! Orebro! Carlstad! 
Sundswall! Ostersund! Drontheim! Christiana! Christiansand ? 
What other towns ? 

_ 

e 

RUSSIA IN EUROPE. 

European Russia is the chief portion of an empire of enor¬ 
mous extent, with vast capacities for improvement, and standing 
at present, if not the first, at least in the very first rank among 
i military nations. 

The surface of the Russian territory is the most level of any 
in Europe, and the neat tract of low land which begins in 
northern Germany, extends in Russia to its greatest breadth, 
exceeding 1200 miles. 

A great portion of the south consists of those immense levels 
called steppes, over which the eye may range for hundreds of 
miles without meeting a hill. 

The rivers of Russia are of the first magnitude; the Volga 
is the greatest river of the empire and of Europe, and the 
Dneiper, Dneister, Don, and Dwina are all large and import¬ 
ant rivers. 

Lakes are not numerous in Russia, but those of Onega and 
Ladoga are several hundred miles in circumference, and form 
a sort of continuation of the Gulf of Finland. 

Vast as this country is, its vegetable pro¬ 
ductions do not differ from the surrounding 
countries; the vegetation of the western parts 
resembles that of Germany; its northern 
those of Sweden and Lapland, and its south¬ 
ern that of Turkey. 

The most common species of wood in the 
immense forests extending over the northern 
part of the Russian empire, consists of the 
different species of the pine tribe. The 
birch, linden, beech, maple, and ash also 
abound. . Cranberry, Fig. 138. 

In some places the surface of the earth is 

What is European Russia ? What of its surface ? What of its south part ? 
What of the rivers ? Lakes ? What of the vegetable productions f The 
forests ? Wliat berries ? What animals ? Birds ? What of the government ? 









176 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


covered with various kinds of wild berries, 
and especially the cranberry, [Fig. 138,] 
which supplies the peasants with a constant 
addition to their other food, besides affording 
a large quantity for exportation to Great Bri¬ 
tain and other countries. 

In the north of Russia the great white bear 
is found, and towards the central provinces 
wolves, bears, the Poland marmot, [Fig. 
139,] the calling hare, and other small ani¬ 
mals, are numerous. 

Several kinds of birds common in Russia 
are seldom seen in the other countries of Eu¬ 
rope. The cock of the rock is the largest 
known species of the grouse, and the pine 
finch, cross bill, [Fig. 140,] and some others, 
inhabit the dreary pine forests. 

The government of Russia is a despotism 
under which the knout is inflicted, even to 
nobles of the highest rank who have incurred 
the displeasure of the sovereign. 

There are also hereditary nobles who pos¬ 
sess immense estates, estimated not by the 
amount of lands, but the number of slaves. 
Slavery is common in Russia, and all the 
lands, with few exceptions, are cultivated by slaves, who are bought 
and sold with it. 

The military force of Russia is a source of anxiety and terror to 
Europe, and the regular army amounts to nearly a million of men, be¬ 
sides a considerable navy, both on the Baltic and Black Sea. 

The agriculture of Russia is extremely rude, but in every part there 
is a surplus of grain; in the north chiefly oats, with some rye and 
barley, and in the south the very finest of wheat. Hemp and flax are 
extensively cultivated, and cattle are raised in vast numbers. 

The manufactures of Russia, notwithstanding the efforts made by 
the government, are in a rude state, but the coarse fabrics from hemp 
and flax, as duck and sheeting, are supplied of better quality and at 
a less price than they can be had elsewhere. 

The commerce of Russia is very considerable, in consequence of the 
large amount of rude produce, ana the extensive interior navigation by 
means of rivers and canals. 

Tallow is by far the most valuable article of export; the next great 
articles are flax, hemp, wheat, iron, timber, and tar. The imports con¬ 
sist chiefly of sugar, wine, silks, dye woods, and other similar articles, 
of more southern climates. 

The basis of the immense Russian population is entirely Sclavonic, 
a race distinguished for its peculiar language, and by its patient, hardy, 

What of the nobles ? The common people ? The military force ? What of 
the agriculture ? Manufactures ? Commerce ? What articles of trade ? Of 



Crossbill, Fig. 140. 





RUSSIA IN EUROPE. 


177 








enduring, obstinate character. The Greek church is the established 
religion, which the people profess, with many superstitious observ¬ 
ances. 

Literature and science are making considerable advances in Russia; 

E ublic establishments for science being highly endowed and patronised 
y the government. 

The iiabitations of the Russian nobles are built in the most splendid 
style, but the dwellings of the common people arq,rude and miserable 
in the extreme. 


Petersburg, the entire creation of Peter die Great, is the most regular, 
and, in appearance, the most splendid capital in Europe. It occupies die 
south and north bank of the river Neva, with several islands. Population, 
447,000. 

The ground on which Petersburg stands being almost on a level with the 
river, exposes it to dreadful danger from inundations. In 1824 the city was 
covered with water for two days, and eight thousand people lost their lives. 

The streets and edifices are divided into several compartments, separated 
by the channels of the Neva. The principal division is that called the Admi¬ 
ralty Quarter, which contains the most splendid portion of the city. 

The Admiralty itself, a quarter of a mile in length, the imperial palace, 
four hundred and fifty feet long, with the cathedral church of Kasan, are all 
edifices of great splendour. 

In the same quarter is the colossal equestrian statue of Peter the Great, 
chiefly remarkable for the mass of black marble on which it is placed, weigh¬ 
ing fifteen hundred tons. . 

The islands and opposite branches of the Neva are connected by bridges of 
boats winch, on the appearance of ice, are removed in two or three hours, and 
the ice then supersedes every other bridge. 

Petersburg is a place of great trade, but the foreign trade of Russia is 
mostly in the hands of foreign merchants, of w hom the English are the prin¬ 



cipal. 

Cronstadt, at the mouth of the Neva, twenty-two miles from Petersburg, of 
which it is the port, is the grand naval arsenal of the empire, and contains ex¬ 
tensive and commodious 
docks, the largest of which 


can contain six hundred 
ships. Population, 30,000. 

Moscow, [Fig. 141,] 
the ancient and interior ca¬ 
pital of Russians, perhaps, 
the most extraordinary city 
either in Europe or Asia. 

It surpasses, in splendour, 
the greatest capitals of Eu¬ 
rope, and, in poverty, the 
poorest villages; wretched 
hovels being blended with 
large palaces. Population, 

245,000. Moscow, Fig. 141. 


what race does the population consist ? What of literature and science ? 
What of the habitations ? 

What of Petersburg ? Why is it subject to inundations ? What of its streets 
and edifices ? The Admiralty ? Statue of Peter the Great ? Bridges ? 

8 * 














ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


178 

The Kremlin is the most extraordinary of all the edifices, and is a sort of 
enclosed town, which, besides the ancient palace of the Czars, contains two 
magnificent churches, with numerous chapels and government offices. 

The history of Moscow has been singularly eventful, and she has passed 
through great vicissitudes of war and destruction, but none equal to the burn¬ 
ing of the city in 1812, to 
prevent it from affording 
an asylum to the army of 
Napoleon. 

Odessa, [Fig. 142,] on 
the Black Sea, is the real 
capital and centre of com¬ 
merce for all southern 
Russia. This city, which 
has sprung up as if by 
magic in the midst of 
a desert, was founded in 
1796, on the site of a Tar¬ 
tar village of a few huts. 
Population, 30,000. 

Map of Europe .—How is Russia in Europe bounded ? What three 
seas connected with it] Where is the Gulf of Bothnia] Gulf of 
Finland] Gulf of Riga? Lake Ladoga] Onega] Where are 
the Ural Mountains ] Can you describe the river Pruth ] Dneister ? 
Dneiper? Don] Volga] Pichora] Dwina] Onega? Duna] 

W nat is the capital of Russia in Europe ] Where is St, Petersburg 
situated ? What cities on the Gulf ol Finland ? On the Gulf of 
Riga ] On the Gulf of Bothnia? On the White Sea? On the Black 
Sea? What cities on the Dneiper] On the Dneister? On the Don? 
On the Volga] On the Pichora] On the Dwina? On the Onega? 
On the Duna ? Where is Moscow ? Novogorod ? Wilna ? Grodno 1 
Minsk? Orel? Valdimar? 



GREECE. 

The southern part of ancient Greece, with most of the islands- 
has lately been wrested from the Turkish power, and erected 
into a kingdom. 

Constitutional monarchy is the form of government adopted 
for Greece by the great powers of Europe, and a son of the king 
of Bavaria has been made king. 

The modem Greeks are represented as a fine, brave race, but some¬ 
what avaricious, intriguing, and cunning, vices incident to their long 
state of oppression by their Turkish masters. 

T rade ? What of Cronstadt ? What of Moscow ? The Kremlin ? How and 
when was Moscow destroyed ? What of Odessa ? 

Of what does the present kingdom of Greece consist ? What is the form 
of government ? W hat is the character of the Greeks ? What of the agri- 









IONIAN REPUBLIC. 


179 


Agriculture is in a rude state, yet so genial are the soil and climate, 
that wheat, barley, and maize are produced in great abundance; cotton, 
also, is raised to a very great extent, and the olive and the grape 
flourish. 

Greece is altogether a pastoral country, and the people are skilled in 
the management of cattle, sheep, and goats, which feed on the sides 
of the hills and high plains of the interior. 

Manufactures scarcely exist, but commerce, to which the numerous 
bays give great facilities, is carried on with much greater activity than 
any other branch of industry. 

The religion of the Greeks is that which is designated by their name 
to distinguish it from the Roman Catholic, but is said to consist of mere 
forms. 

Learning, in Greece, where it once flourished with such splendour, 
had become extinct, but some efforts have been lately made for its re¬ 
newal by the establishment of schools and colleges. 



Athens still holds its place among the principal cities of modern Greece, 
of which it is the capital, and presents objects of the most lofty interest,for 
here are maintained, in 
wonderful preservation, 
the grandest existing mo¬ 
numents of ancient ar¬ 
chitecture. Population, 

12 , 000 . 

The Acropolis, [Fig. 

143,] seated on an almost 
perpendicular hill, and 
crowned with the Par¬ 
thenon, or temple of Mi¬ 
nerva, forms the most con- 

on the Acropolis * Athens, Fig. 143. 

isthmus which unites the 

Morea with the continent, is, like Athens, renowned in ancient Grecian story, 
but it is now decayed, and presents few monuments of its former greatness. 
Population, 1,500. 


Map of Europe .—How is Greece bounded 1 What part is the Mo¬ 
rea ] v\ here is the island of Negropont ] What is the capital 1 W here 
is Athens] Corinth] Lepanto] 


IONIAN REPUBLIC. 

The Ionian Islands is a name given to a range of islands 
near the western coast of Greece, which are united into a re¬ 
public under the protection of Great Britain. 

The Ionian Islands are seven in number : Cephalonia, Corfu, Santa 

culture ? Is Greece a pastoral country ? What of the manufactures ? What 
is the religion ? What is the condition of learning ? What of Athens ? 1 he 
Acropolis ? Corinth ? 






180 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Maura, Cerigo, Theaki, and Paxo, and are rocky, rugged, and pictu¬ 
resque, though none of the peaks rise to any great elevation. The 
population of these islands is 220,000. 

They are ill fitted for the cultivation of grain, but wine, honey, fruits, 
and flax are produced in great perfection. 

Zante is the richest and most flourishing of these islands, but Corfu 
contains the seat of government, which is strongly fortified. 

Coiiftj, the capital, on the island of the same name, contains 16,000 inha¬ 
bitants ; and Zante, on the island of Zante, has a population ot 22,000. 

Map of Europe .—Where are the Ionian Islands'? Where is Cerigo 1 


TURKEY IN EUROPE. 

Turkey in Europe forms the western part of that extensive 
and once mighty empire, the largest part of which belongs to 
Asia. 

The mountains of European Turkey consist chiefly of that 
extensive and formidable range, by the Turks called the Bal¬ 
kan, a continuous chain, stretching from the head of the Adri¬ 
atic to the Black Sea. 

The Danube, the greatest river in Europe, swelled to its ut¬ 
most magnitude, rolls along the northern border of European 
Turkey till it mingles its waters with those of the Black Sea. 

In European Turkey many plants are produced, from which some of 
the most useful medicines are obtained, of which opium, rhubarb, gum 
mastick, gum tragacanth, and gum terebinth are the most important. 

Of the birds, the European, or pink coloured flamingo, is a frequent 
visitor to the salt water pools and marshes, accompanied by the pelican, 
and many other waterfowl. 

Of the domestic animals, the horses are very fine, and the cattle are 
large, and furnished with ample horns, like those of southern Italy. 
The Wallachian sheep are remarkable for their straight, spiral, twisted 
horns. 

The Turkish political system consists in the absolute subjection of 
the whole administration, civil, religious, and military, to one man, who 
is called the Grand Seignior. 

Agriculture, in European Turkey, is greatly depressed by arbitrary 
exactions, but grain is still produced in abundance, vast quantities of 
sheep are reared, and bees innumerable produce a profusion of honey 
and wax. 

Manufactures, with the exception of a few fine fabrics, scarcely exist, 
and commerce is almost exclusively confined to the port of Constanti¬ 
nople. 

What are the Ionian Islands ? What is the name of each of the islands ? 
What are the productions ? What of Zante ? Corfu ? 

What does Turkey in Europe form ? What of the mountains ? What great 
river ? What of the vegetable productions ? What of the birds ? Domestic 
animals ? What of the Turkish political system ? What of tire agriculture ? 



TURKEY IN EUROPE. 


181 


The national character and aspect of the Turks are thoroughly oriental, 
and the religion of Mahomed is considered to be preserved throughout 
this empire in a state of peculiar purity. 



Constantinople, Fig. 144. 


Constantinople, [Fig. 144,] the capital of the Turkish Empire, occupies, 
perhaps, the most commanding and important situation of any city in the world, 
and its situation is as beautiful as it is commodious. Population, 500,000. 

The city itself, rising on seven hills, along the shore of the Bosphorus, em¬ 
braced in groves, from which numerous gilded domes arise to a lofty height, 
presents a magnificent spectacle, but on entering it the streets are found to be 
narrow, winding, steep, and very dirty, and the houses low and gloomy. 

Pera, on the European side, is a suburb in which all the European ambas¬ 
sadors reside. Scutari is on the Asiatic side, near which, in a great forest, is 
a splendid cemetery, in which all the Turkish grandees strive to be buried, 
because they consider Asia as holy ground. 

Near the cemetery is the Castle of the Seven Towers, used by the govern¬ 
ment as a state prison. 

Adrianople, the former capital, is still a large city, five miles in circum¬ 
ference, and contains many ancient palaces, as well as the splendid mosque of 
the Sultan Selim, built in more modern times. Population, 100,000. 


Map of Europe. —How is Turkey in Europe bounded ? What part of 
Turkey in Europe borders on the Black Sea ? On the Sea of Marmora I 
On the Archipelago? On the Gulf of Venice? Through what part 
does the Danube flow ? 

What is the capital of Turkey ? Where is Constantinople situated ? 
Adrianople? Sophia? Belgrade? Widdin? Silistria? Bucharest? 
Ibraila? Jassy? Varna? Sliumla? Serajevo? Scutari? Berat? 
Salonica ? Rodosto ? 

Manufactures ? National character ? Religion ? What of Constantinople ? 
What is its situation and appearance ? What of Pera ? Scutari ? The Castle 
of the Seven Towers ? What of Adrianople ? 

















182 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


ASIA. 

Asia is an immense country, the largest division of the old 
world, and perhaps nearly equal to Europe and Africa united. 

The immense expanse of Asia presents every possible variety 
of soil and climate, as it extends from the dreary confines of 
the polar world to the heat of the tropical regions. 

The grandest feature of Asia is a chain of mountains crossing 
it from the Mediterranean to the eastern sea, of which Taurus, 
Caucasus,, and the Himmaleh are the portions best known. 
The Altai, a long range of the bleakest mountains on the face 
of the earth, separates middle Asia from Siberia. 

One leading feature of middle Asia consists in large lakes or inland 
seas, salt like the ocean, and having no outlets, of which the Caspian 
Sea, the Aral, and Baikal are the largest, with several others of less 
magnitude. 

Asia contains many rivers of the first magnitude, and' the Euphrates, 
Ganges, Hoangho, and Amoor, in the length of their course, yield only 
to the rivers of the new world. 

Asia is also distinguished for its archipelagoes of islands, of an ex¬ 
tent sufficient to form kingdoms. Such are Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and 
the Philippines, which, with many smaller ones, form the Oriental Ar¬ 
chipelago, and the Japan Islands. 

The vegetable productions of Asia are ex¬ 
tremely varied, and comprise a large portion of 
those considered of the most valuable descrip¬ 
tion. The cotton plant, [Fig. 145,] sugar¬ 
cane, and indigo plant are all natives of south¬ 
ern Asia. 

The animals of northern Asia, or Siberia, 
consist, like those of the northern regions of 
Europe and America, of the fur-bearing ani¬ 
mals, and have a general character entirely 
similar to them. 

Cotton, Fig. 145. Central Asia is remarkable for being the 

native country of the dzeggtai, a distinct spe¬ 
cies of horse, and also of a peculiar species of argali, or wild sheep. 
The Arnu buffalo, and the yak, or Tartaric ox, two gigantic animals, 
are found on the borders of the Himmaleh Mountains. 



What is Asia ? What of the soil and climate ? What of the lakes or in¬ 
land seas ? What of the rivers ? Islands ? What of the vegetable produc¬ 
tions ? Animals ? For what is central Asia remarkable ? What of the ani¬ 
mals of southern Asia ? What other animals ? What of the birds of southern 



ASIA. 


183 






Southern Asia includes a great variety of 
animals, some of them the largest and most 
ferocious on the globe. Troops of elephants, 
with wild boars, buffaloes, antelopes, and other 
herbaceous animals, abound everywhere, and 
the one-horned rhinoceros [Fig. 146] is 
still found on the swampy banks of the great 
rivers. 

The woods and jungles give shelter to the 
great tiger of Bengal, [Fig. .147,] while pan¬ 
thers, leopards, lynxes, hyenas, and jackals 
appear to swarm in the least cultivated dis- Rhinoceros, Fig. 146. 
tricts. But southern Asia is chiefly charac¬ 
terized by being the native region of the large 
apes, of which various species abound in the 
two great peninsulas of Hindoostan and Ma¬ 
lacca, as well as in the islands. 

Southern Asia, and the Asiatic islands, 
abound with the most beautiful species of the 
feathered tribe. Parrots, two species of the 
cockatoo, one jet black, and the other perfect¬ 
ly white, with many other birds of the most 
splendid plumage, are met with, while among 
the wading birds the gigantic crane, five or ™. . 

six feet high, presents the largest as well as 11 ^ er ’ * 1 »’ 147 ‘ 

one of the most voracious of the heron tribe. 

The rivers of southern Asia abound with crocodiles of a large size, 
and serpents are very numerous, some of which are remarkable for 
their large size, and others for their deadly poison. 

Asia, to the south of the great ridges of mountains, has always been 
a populous and wealthy region, and the seat of the Babylonian, Assy¬ 
rian, Persian, and other great empires, which, one after the other, have 
aimed at universal dominion. 


Asia contains sixteen millions of square miles, and the population is esti¬ 
mated at more than four hundred millions, distributed in the following coun¬ 
tries:— 


Turkey in Asia, 

Arabia, - - 

Persian Empire, 
Independent Persia, - 
Hindoostan, 

Indo-Chinese Countries, 
China, - 


10 , 000,000 
10,000,000 
12 , 000,000 
8,000,000 
140,000,000 
20,000,000 
2 .0,000,000 


Thibet, - 10,000,000 

Independent Tartary, 10,000,000 

Chinese Tartary, - 20,000,000 

Russia on the Caspian, 2,500,000 

Siberia, - 1,038,000 

Japan, - 25,000,000 

Indian Archipelago, - 13,500,000 


In regard to its social and political state, Asia presents institutions, 
usages, and manners unaltered from the earliest ages, and the life of 
the ^patriarch, as delineated in the earliest historical records, is still 
found unchanged in the Arab tent. 


Asia ? What of the crocodiles ? Serpents ? In what part of Asia have the 
great empires flourished ? What is the extent and population of Asia ? What 
of the social and political state j* What of the government of the Asiatic 








184 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The government of all the countries of Asia has always been of the 
most despotic description, and the number of communities, chiefs, and 
even princes who practise robbing as a trade, is a feature which strongly 
marks this division of the globe. 

The aspect and manners of the Asiatics are also different from Eu¬ 
ropeans. Instead of our tight, short clothes, they wear long, flowing 
robes, wrapped loosely round the body, the fashion of which never 
changes; a light turban supplies the place of a hat, and sandals are 
worn instead of shoes. 

In their disposition and temper, the people of the east are grave, 
serious, and indolent; they have no numerous assemblages or places 
of amusement, and regard that lively, social intercourse in which Eu¬ 
ropeans delight, as silly and frivolous. 

A high profession of religion generally distinguishes the Asiatics, 
and the name of God is always in their mouths, but whether Mahome- 
dan or Pagan, their religion is characterized by bigotry, ignorance, and 
superstition. 

In the great Asiatic empires agriculture is carried on with much in¬ 
dustry and care, but with little skill. 

Asia also has some manufactures of peculiar beauty, and all the ef¬ 
forts of European art have not been able fully to equal the carpets of 
Persia, the muslins of India, the porcelain of China, and the lacquered 
ware of Japan. 

Commerce, though fettered by the jealousy of rival states, is very 
active, throughout Asia, both by sea in ships, and by caravans over 
land. 


DIVISIONS. 

Maps of the World , Asia , and Pacific Ocean. —In which hemisphere is 
Asia ! How is Asia bounded ! In what part is Asiatic Russia ! Tar¬ 
tary I Turkey in Asia ! Arabia] Persia! Cabul! Beloochistan ! 
Hindoostan! Birmah! Japan! 

MOUNTAINS. 

What is a mountain! What is the situation and extent of the chain 
of the Altai Mountains! The Himmaleh Mountains! Ural Moun¬ 
tains ! 

ISLANDS. 

What is an island! Where is the island of Ceylon! Sumatra! 
Java! Borneo ! Celebes ! The Philippine Islands ! Japan Islands ! 
Saghalien! NovaZembla! Cyprus! 

PENINSULAS. 

What is a peninsula ! W T hat seas form a peninsula of the western 
portion of Turkey in Asia ! What portions of water make Arabia a 
peninsula! Hindoostan! Malacca! Corea! Kamtschatka! 

countries ? Manners and customs ? Disposition and temper ? Religion ? 
Agriculture ? Manufactures ? Commerce ? 


TURKEY IN ASIA. 


185 


CAPES. 

What is a cape ? Where is Cape Comorin? Cape Lopatka? Cape 
Engano ? Cape Augustine ? 

GULFS AND BAYS. 

What is a gulf? What is a bay? Where is the Persian Gulf? 
Gulf of Cambay ? Bay of Bengal ? Gulf of Siam ? Gulf of Ton- 
quin ? Anadir Gulf? 

STRAITS. 

What is a strait ? What is a channel ? Where is the Strait of Babel- 
mandel? Strait of Ormus? Strait of Malacca? Strait of Sunda? 
Perouse Strait ? Channel of Tartary ? 

SEAS AND LAKES. 

What is a sea? "What is a lake? Where is the Mediterranean 
Sea? Archipelago? Black Sea? Caspian Sea? Sea of Aral? Red 
Sea? China Sea? Eastern Sea? Yellow Sea? Sea of Japan? Sea 
of Okhotsk ? Sea of Obi ? Sea of Kara ? Where is Lake Baikal ? 
Tchany Lake ? Balkask Lake ? 

RIVERS. 

What is a river ? Where is the river Euphrates ? Indus ? Ganges ? 
Burrampooter ? Japanese River ? Kiang ? Hoang-Ho ? Saghalien ? 
Covima? Indighirca? Lena? Yenisei? Obi? Volga? 


TURKEY IN ASIA. 

Turkey in Asia is a very extensive region, including some 
of the finest and fairest portions of the globe. 

This wide region contains mountains, only inferior in height 
to the Andes and the Himmaleh. In Armenia, Ararat rears 
its snowy peaks, and Lebanon, the pride of Syria, is no longer 
covered with cedars, though its heights are crowned with snow. 

Of the rivers, none attain the first magnitude, except the Eu¬ 
phrates and Tigris, which rise in Armenia, and in the lower 
part of their course unite in one channel, before mingling their 
waters with those of the Persian Gulf. 

The small, though celebrated river Jordan, rises in the mountains 
of Lebanon, and flowing through the Sea of Tiberias, ends its course of 
about 120 miles, in the Lake Asphaltites, or Dead Sea. 

Asiatic Turkey comprises some of the most fruitful portions of the 
globe. Besides wheat, rye, barley, beans, and the cotton plant, which 
: are cultivated everywhere, the fig, olive, mulberry, date, citron, sugar- 
, cane, and many other valuable plants, grow in different portions of this 
i wide region. 

What is Turkey in Asia ? What mountains does it contain ? What of the 
rivers? The river Jordan ? What does Asiatic Turkey comprise? What 





186 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


At the foot of the barren mountains which 
encircle the Dead Sea, the apple of Sodom 
[Fig. 148] is found, the fruit of which, being 
destroyed by insects, contains only dust, 
though the colour of the outside is preserved. 

The Angora goats are very beautiful; the 
hair, mostly white, is long ana soft, and much 
esteemed for making shawls and other dresses. 
It has long, buff-coloured ears, and the horns, 
pointing upwards, have a spiral turn. The 
Angora sheep are of different varieties; some 
Apple of Sodom, Fig. 148. h ave CO arse, and some fine wool, but they all 
have very long tails, with the ears horizontal. 

The principles and mode of government are precisely the same in 
Asiatic as in European Turkey, but the pachas, or governors, being 
more distant, act more independently, though the people are oppressed 
to the utmost extent. 

Agricultural industry is rendered insecure by the tyranny of the pa¬ 
chas, and in many parts once highly productive, no trace of fertility now 
remains. Manufactures are chiefly of a coarse kind, yet silk, cotton, 
leather, and soap are staples of the Levant. 

The state of social existence, religion, learning, and manners, so far 
as respects the Turks, are precisely the same in Asiatic as in European 
Turkey, but the Greeks, and other native subject races, have each their 
own peculiar habits, manners, and customs. 

The principal divisions of the Turkish empire in Asia are Palestine, 
Syria, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia, all of which are celebrated as the 
theatre of many of the great events recorded in history. 




Jerusalem, Fig. 149. 


productions ? What of the apple of Sodom ? What of the Angora goat ? 
Angora sheep ? What of the government ? Agricultural industry ? Manu¬ 
factures ? Manners of the people ? Which are the principal divisions of die 














ARABIA. 


187 


Palestine, or the Holy Land, which for so many reasons especially excites 
our attention, contains Jerusalem, [Fig. 149,] anciently so celebrated, and 
still one of the principal cities of the Turkish empire. Population, 30,000. 

In Jerusalem two objects appear which place it on a level with what¬ 
ever is splendid in the east: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the 
Mosque of Omar. 

The splendid Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built by the Empress 
Helena upon a site which was supposed to include the scene of all die great 
mysteries of our religion, die crucifixion, the entombment, and die resurrec¬ 
tion. 

But the Mosque of Omar, built on the site of the Temple of Solomon, is a 
much more splendid edifice. The building is 1489 by 995 feet, the floors and 
walls of marble, and the inner shrine 60 feet square, of the finest materials, is 
covered with sentences from the Koran. 

Damascus, whose existence from the earliest ages has been recorded, and 
always as a great capital, still maintains a high importance. It is built of 
brick, and the houses are low and gloomy, but the environs of the city rank as 
the paradise of the East. Population, 140,000. 

Aleppo, the modern capital of Syria, is built on several hills, and owes its 
greatness to the vast extent of its inland trade. It is also the rendezvous of 
the pilgrims from all the adjacent countries on their route to Mecca, and is 
generally esteemed die neatest and best built of Turkish cities. Population, 
200,000. 

Smyrna, the modern capital of Asia Minor, and the emporium of the Le¬ 
vant, presents almost the only remnant of that prosperity which was once so 
widely diffused. It has a fine bay, a secure and capacious harbour, and pos¬ 
sesses an extensive commerce. Population, 130,000. 

Bagdad, on the Euphrates, once the capital of the Mahomedan world, now 
exhibits scarcely any remnant of the gay and romandc splendour of the court 
of the Caliphs. All that is modern of Bagdad is meanly built, and the streets 
narrow and dirty, though it still retains considerable trade. Population, 
100,000. 


Map of Asia .—How is Turkey in Asia bounded ? What three seas 
form a part of the boundary ? Can you describe the river Euphrates ? 
Where is the island of Cyprus ? What part of Turkey is known by the 
name of Syria? Where is the city of Smyrna ? Aleppo? Damascus? 
Jerusalem? Diarbekir? Bagdad? Bassora? Erzerum? Tokat? 
Palmyra ? Bursa ? W T hat places on the coast of the Black Sea ? Ar¬ 
chipelago ? Mediterranean ? 


ARABIA. 

Arabia is an extensive country of Asia, comprising nearly 
the whole of the southwest portion of that great quarter of the 
globe. 

Turkish empire ? What of Palestine ? What two principal objects in Jeru¬ 
salem ? What of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre ? The Mosque of Omar ? 
What of Damascus ? Aleppo ? Smyrna ? Bagdad ? 









188 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The privation of water, from which the barrenness of Arabia 
arises, is incident to all countries under the torrid zone, in which 
moisture is not collected by great ranges of mountains. 

Arabia, indeed, is not destitute of tracts that have a moun¬ 
tainous character, and Sinai and Horeb, towering over the head 
of the Red Sea, and rendered famous by great events, form, pro¬ 
bably, the most elevated portion. 

In all Arabia scarcely a river can be said to exist. Torrents alone 
are seen dashing down the rocks, which, after diffusing verdure over a 
valley of small extent, are absorbed in the sand. 

The general nature of the productions may be surmised from the 
name of its two great portions: Arabia the Stony, and Arabia the 
Desert. A third portion is Yemen, or Happy Arabia, so called on ac¬ 
count of its comparative fertility. 

Many valuable plants are peculiar to 
Arabia, in the first rank of which stands 
the coffee tree, [Fig. 150,] of which Ara¬ 
bia Felix, if not the native country, is the 
favoured spot where it arrives at tne great¬ 
est perfection. 

Balsam, frankincense, myrrh, gum, ta¬ 
marinds, aloes, and senna are the staple 
commodities of Arabia that have given the 
country a name and rank among commer¬ 
cial nations. 

i Coffee Trpp Fio- i 50 The substance called gum Arabic is the 
’ S ‘ product of the acacia, [Fig, 131,] a thorny 

tree which grows in Arabia, and several other 
countries of Asia and Africa. 

The fruits of temperate and warmer cli¬ 
mates are equally produced in Arabia; as 
gourds, melons, pomegranates, dates, apricots, 
peaches, almonds, filberts, pears, figs, oranges, 
and lemons. 

Arabia, in common with the whole extent 
of northern Africa, Persia, and western India, 
possesses the camel and dromedary, [Fig. 
152,] to which travellers add lynxes, jackals, 
hyenas, monkeys, jerboas, and panthers. 
Acacia, Fig. 151. The Arabian horses are known to be the 

finest in the world, but they are not found wild 




What is Arabia ? From what does its barrenness arise ? What of the 
mountains ? Rivers ? What of the divisions of Arabia ? What of the cof¬ 
fee plant ? What other valuable productions ? What of the substance called 
gum Arabic ? What of the fruits ? What animals in Arabia ? What of the 
Arabian horses ? What is the political condition of Arabia j 1 What pro- 


ARABIA. 


189 


in the desert, and are believed to have been 
originally brought from Tartary. 

Arabia has, from the earliest ages, been 
ruled by a number of princes and petty lords, 
called sheiks, independent of each other, and 
exercising within their own territory supreme 
power. 

In many parts of Arabia no grain can be 
raised at all, but the inhabitants show some 
skill in turning to account the scanty rills of 
water which refresh the valleys. The coffee 
tree is the most important object of culture. 

Manufactures can scarcely be said to exist, 
but for its commerce, Arabia enjoyed an early celebrity, of which few 
traces are now to be found. 

The social existence of the Arabs is, in one respect, very interesting, 
as it presents, almost unaltered, an image of what human society was 
in the earliest ages. The Arabs are small in size, spare, and even 
meagre, and equally celebrated for their hospitality and robbery. 

The religion of Mahomed, which originated in Arabia, still main¬ 
tains undisputed sway, and Christians, who were once numerous, are 
now so completely extirpated that not a single church remains. 

Mecca, the capital of Arabia, the birthplace of Mahomed, and one of the 
handsomest cities of the east, stands in a narrow valley, enclosed between 
rocky hills. The resort of pilgrims from all Mahomedan countries has ren¬ 
dered it a flourishing city. Population, 30,000. 

The celebrated temple 
of Mecca forms a spacious 
square, about a quarter of 
a mile in each direction, 
with a triple or quadruple 
row of columns. 

Medina, the burial place 
of Mahomed, has never 
rivalled Mecca, and is 
visited by few pilgrims. 

Population, 8,000. 

Mocha, [Fig. 153,] the 
capital of Yemen, or Ara¬ 
bia Felix, is the chief mart 
for coffee, and is remarka¬ 
ble for furnishing it of very Mocha, Fig. 153. 

superior quality. From 

the sea, its white-washed houses, varied by minarets and tombs, present a 
very pleasing appearance. Population, 5,000. 

Map of Asia .—How is Arabia bounded ? What strait at the entrance 
of the Ked Sea? At the entrance of the Persian Gulf? Where is 

ductions of the soil ? What of the manufactures ? What is the character 
and condition of the people ? What of the religion ? What of Mecca ? The 
temple of Mecca ? Medina ? Mocha ! 




Dromedary, Fig. 152. 











190 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Mount Sinai ! What town at the northern extremity of the Red Seal 
What other towns on the coast of the Red Sea 1 On the coast of the 
Indian Ocean! On the Persian Guif! Where is Mecca! Medina! 
Sana! 


PERSIA. 

Persia, in ancient times, was the seat of one of the most 
powerful Asiatic monarchies, and still possesses many inte¬ 
resting features. 

Persia can boast of some of the grandest natural features, 
though they rather range along the borders, as the Caspian Sea 
and Persian Gulf, while Russia has wrested from her the Cau¬ 
casus, and Turkey disputes the lofty heights of Ararat. 

The Asiatic lion is not unknown in Persia, 
and the hunting leopard, lynx, and hyena are 
common. The brown, or Norway rat, came 
originally from Persia, and the Persian ga¬ 
zelle [Fig. 154] has long been celebrated. 

Of the domestic animals, the two-humped 
Bactrian camel and the dromedary are in com¬ 
mon use, as beasts of burden, and the Persian 
horses are inferior alone to those of Arabia. 

The Persian monarch is despotic, and 
the principle inculcated in the Koran, by 
which he exercises a divine right over the 
persons and properties of his subjects, is 
fully recognised. 

The Persians are an active and laborious people; but, in regard to 
agriculture, the country labours under great cfisaavantages for want of 
water, as there are no large rivers in the interior, and the soil is naturally 
salt and dry. 

Wheat is the principal grain, and the fruits, such as the melon, fig, 
peach, apricot, and vine, are of peculiar excellence, but the greater part 
of the country is devoted to pasturage. 

Persia was formerly greatly distinguished as a manufacturing coun¬ 
try, and rich carpets, silks, sabres, earthenware, with shawls, Feather, 
paper, and jewellery, are still among the best of her manufactures. 
The foreign commerce is carried on only through the ports of Bushire 
and Gombroon. 

In disposition, the Persians are gay, lively, and animated; the man¬ 
ners of the higher ranks are peculiarly amiable, while that of the lower 
is at least free from rudeness. They are Mahomedans, and adhere to 
the sect of Ali. 

What was Persia in ancient times ? What of the natural features of Per¬ 
sia ? What animals ? What of the domestic animals ? What of the go¬ 
vernment ? Agriculture ? What productions ? Wliat of the manufactures ? 
What is the character of the people ? What advances have they made in 



Gazelle, Fig. 154. 



PERSIA. 


191 



The Persians are the most literary people among the Asiatics; poetry, 
in particular, is a ruling passion, and Hafiz, Saadi, and Ferdusi are their 
most celebrated poets. The sciences, also, have been cultivated "with 
peculiar ardour. 

Ispahan [Fig. 155] was 
made the capital of Persia 
by the Caliphs of Bagdad, 
and being in the middle of 
the empire, became the 
centre of the inland trade, 
and attained an extent and 
splendour unrivalled in 
western Asia, but has now 
greatly declined. Popula¬ 
tion, 200,000. 

Teheran, [Fig. 156,] 
now the capital of Persia Ispahan, Fig. 155. 

is situated on the foot ol 
the loftiest mountains of 

the Elburz. It is four miles in circumference, strongly fortified, and is rather 
a camp than a city. Population, 60,000. 



Teheran, Fig. 156. 


Thirty miles to the north of Shiraz are found the remains of the palace of 
Persepolis, one of the most magnificent structures which art ever reared. Its 
front is 600 paces in length, and the side 390 paces, and is remarkable for cor¬ 
rect proportions, and beautiful sculpture. 


Map of Asia .—How is Persia bounded 1 What sea, gulf, and strait 
connected with Persia 1 What chain of mountains on the western part 1 
What is the capital of Persia ? Where is Teheran ? Ispahan 1 Casbin 1 
Cashan ? Shiraz ? Bushire ? W hat other towns ? 


learning and science? What of Ispahan? Teheran? What of the ruins 
of Persepolis ? 

































192 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


INDEPENDENT PERSIA. 

The large region now called Independent Persia, forms 
rather a district containing several territories, than a distinct or 
connected kingdom. Cabul, or Afghanistan, comprises the 
north, and Beloochistan the southern part. 

This region presents a sort of com¬ 
pound of Persia and Arabia. On the 
north, vast mountains, high table lands, 
and rapid rivers, and on the south sandy 
and salt deserts. 

The vine, peach, [Fig. 157,] and apricot, 
[Fig. 158,] grow wild, and the sugar-cane, 
cotton, indigo, and melons, with wheat, bar¬ 
ley, and maize, wherever a little industry is 
combined with a fertile soil. The cedar, cy- 

J iress, oak, walnut, pistachio, terebinth, and 
Lolly are the common trees on the mountains. 

The political constitution of Cabul differs 
from nearly every other Asiatic monarchy, as 
in every tribe there is a representative assem¬ 
bly, without which the khans can undertake 
nothing. 

The Afghans, who form the body of the 
population, have a lofty, martial spirit, bold 
and simple manners, combined with unbound¬ 
ed hospitality. In religion they are Maho- 
medans. 

Cabul, now the capital of Afghanistan, is one of 
the most delightful cities in the world. It is situ¬ 
ated about 6000 feet above the level of the sea, is 
surrounded by an extensive, finely watered, and fertile plain, and enjoys a 
temperate climate. Population, 60,000. 

Peshawer, the former capital, is situated in a very fertile plain, about thirty- 
five miles broad, surrounded by the loftiest mountain ranges of tire Hindoo 
Koosh. Population, 50,000. 

Kelat, the capital of Beloochistan, is situated on ground elevated 8000 feet 
above the level of the sea, and, therefore, subject in winter to such intense cold 
that the Tchan and principal chiefs descend to a lower region. The khan 
claims the sovereignty over all Beloochistan, but his real power is nearly con¬ 
fined to the adjoining district. Population, 20,000. 


Map of Asia .—How is Cabul bounded I Beloochistan 1 ? What is 
the capital of Cabul ? Where is the city of Cabul situated ? Pesh¬ 
awer? Heraut? Balk? Meshid? Candahar? What is the ca- 
ital of Beloochistan ? Where is Kelat situated ? Sarawan ? Gun- 
ava? Kedje? Bunthe? Bayla? 

What does Independent Persia form ? What are the general features of 
this region ? What of the productions ? What trees ? What of the poli¬ 
tical constitution ? What is the character of the Afghans ? What of Cabul i 
Peshawer ? Kelat i 





HINDOOSTAN. 


193 


HINDOOSTAN. 


The region known to the ancients by the name of India, and 
now most commonly by the Persian name of Hindoostan, has 
alwaj s been the most celebrated country of the East. 

The grandest feature of India is the extended mountain 
range of the Himmaleh, which forms the northern boundary, 
and whose snow-clad peaks rise to the height of more than fi\ e 
miles above the level of the sea. 

The rivers of India are of little less importance than the 
mountains, and the Ganges, Indus, and Burrampoo^er rising 
from the beds of eternal snow which rest on the Himmaleh, 
convey an immense body of water to the ocean. 



The forests of India 
are on the most exten¬ 
sive scale, and are well 
known to contain some 
of the most valua¬ 
ble and curious trees. 

Among them is the 
famous banian tree, 

[Fig. 159,] a species of 
fig, constantly planted 
about the Hindoo tem¬ 
ples. The bamboo is 
a gigantic grass, fre- 
ouently a foot thick at 
tne base, and a hundred 
feet high. 

The teak tree is unrivalled for ship-building, and flourishes both on 
the hills of Malabar and in the islands. Malabar also furnishes a sup¬ 
ply of the sweet-scented sandal wood. 


The Banian tree, Fig. 159. 



Sugar-cane, Fig. 160. Indigo, Fig. 161. 

The cotton plant, sugar-cane, [Fig. 160,] and indigo plant, [Fig. 

What of Hindoostan ? What is the grandest feature of India ? What of 
the rivers ? What of the forests ? The banian tree ? Bamboo? Teak tree? 
Cotton plant ? Sugar-cane ? Indigo ? Rice ? What of the palms ? The 








194 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


161,1 are all natives of the East Indies, and, with rice, form the staple 
articles of cultivation. 

The palms, which administer to so many wants of the natives, are 
among the grandest features of Indian scenery. The southeast coast 
of India abounds with the cocoa-nut palm tree, of which the Hindoos 
celebrate three hundred and sixty-five uses that they derive from it. 
The leaf of the Palmyra palm will shelter twelve men, and the trunk, 
which attains the height of one hundred feet, yields abundantly the toddy 
or palm wine. 

The betel-nut palm, in the gracefulness of its trunk and foliage, excels 
f the cocoa-nut tree, and the fruit is eaten with the pungent leaf of the 
betel pepper, from which it derives its name. 

The Indian, or one-horned rhinoceros, is distinct from that of the 
islands, which has two horns. 

The Bengal, or royal tiger, is the scourge of Asia and its islands ; 
and, being equal in size, though generally inferior in strength, it does 
not hesitate to attack the lion. The Indian ichneumon resembles the 
weasel; and, for its size, is as fierce and ferocious as the tiger. 

The four-horned antelope is peculiar to India, and is a beautiful, deli- 
cate-shaped little animal, about twenty inches high, of a bay colour 
above, and whitish beneath. 

The peacock is the glory of Indian birds, and the jungle cock is, 
perhaps, more beautiful than the domestic species. 

Of the domestic animals, the Asiatic elephant is the most important. 
Its services appear universal, and it is as essential to an Indian sports¬ 
man as a good horse is to an English fox hunter. The oxen are all of 
the humped breed, and the buffalo is chiefly employed in agriculture. 
The sheep are of the broad tailed kind. 

In Hindoostan, as it now exists, the power of Britain is en¬ 
tirely predominant; and the absolute sway of an island so small, 
oyer so vast an empire, and accessible only by crossing such a 
wide extent of ocean, presents one of the most remarkable 
facts in the history of the world. 

Agriculture, in Hindoostan, is conducted in the rudest manner, but it 
has long been celebrated for its fertility, and the products are copious. 
Rice is the main dependence, and is raised on every part where water 
can be procured. Cotton, sugar, and coffee are also staple articles. 

The commerce of India, though extensive, is chiefly in the hands of 
foreigners, the native Hindoos having never been a mercantile or trading 
people. 

The mining operations of India are confined to one object, but that is 
of the most brilliant character. It produces the finest diamonds in the 
world ; for those of Brazil, though of a larger size, are inferior in hard¬ 
ness and brilliancy. The mines of Golconda are those most celebrated. 

The Hindoos, though by the action of the climate rendered as black 
as negroes, have nothing of the negro aspect. They possess a peculiar 

cocoa-nut palm ? The Palmyra palm ? The betel-nut palm ? What of the 
rhinoceros ? Tiger ? Indian ichneumon ? Four horned antelope ? Peacock? 
The elephant ? Oxen ? Sheep ? What of the political condition of India ? 
What of the agriculture aud productions ? Commerce ? Mining ? What 



HINDOOSTAN. 


195 






delicacy of shape, are a refined people, with manners very polished, 
polite, graceful, and engaging. 

The religion of the Hindoos is an exceedingly intricate system of 
paganism. Bramah is the Supreme Deity, besides many millions of 
inferior divinities. They even worship the river Ganges, the cow, ape, 
and other animals. 

The people are divided in clans or castes, the brahmins, or priests, 
the soldiers, merchants, and labourers. The functions and station of 
each class are fixed by birth in the most decided manner, and they are 
not permitted to intermarry with each other. 

The pariahs consist of all those who have been expelled from the 
other classes, and are the most wretched and degraded of human beings. 

The literature of Hindoostan is considerable, but consists almost en¬ 
tirely of religious books. In the sciences, and especially in mathe¬ 
matics, the Hindoos have made considerable advances. 

Calcutta, [Fig. 162 ,] on 
the Hoogly branch of the 
Ganges, about one hundred 
miles from the sea, from a 
few straggling huts has 
been raised by Great Bri¬ 
tain to be the capital of In¬ 
dia. The city contains 
half a million, and within 
a circle of twenty miles, 
two millions of inhabitants. 

The government-house is a 
very splendid and costly 
structure. 

Benares is universally 
accounted by the Hindoos to be ancient and holy, above all other cities, and 
may be said to form the grand depository of the religion and learning of this 
vast country. Benares, in fact, presents a more lofty and imposing aspect than 
any other Indian city, the 
houses being mostly built 
of brick, and some of them 
five or six stories high. 

Bombay, the western ca¬ 
pital of British India, is 
situated on a small island, 
connected by an artificial 
causeway to the larger one 
of Salsette. It commands 
a beautiful view over a bay 
diversified with rocky is¬ 
lands, and crowned by a 
back-ground of lofty and 
picturesque hills. 

The vicinity of Bombay 
is distinguished by the most ancient and remarkable of the religious struc- 


Calcutta, Fig. 162. 


Cave of Elephanta, Fig. 163. 


of the appearance and character of the Hindoos ? What of their system of 
religion ? What divisions of classes ? What of the pariahs ? What of 
Hindoo literature and science ? What of Calcutta ? Benares ? Bombay f 
What of the Cave of Elephanta ? The island of Ceylon i Columbo ? 























196 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


tures formed by the Hindoos. The most celebrated is the cave temple of Ele- 
phanta, [Fig. 163,] on a small island of the same name. The entry is by four 
rows of massive columns, and the interior is 220 feet long by 150 broad, con¬ 
taining three colossal heads, supposed to be those of the Hindoo Trinity. 

Ceylon is a beautiful island southeast of the 
southern extremity of Hindoostan. Its most 
peculiar product is cinnamon, [Tig. 164,] one 
of the most delicate of spices, tor which there 
exists an extensive demand in Europe. Cey¬ 
lon belongs to Great Britain, and has been 
made a royal colony, not subject to the rule of 
the East India Company. 

Columbo is the seat, both of the government and 
almost all the foreign trade of Ceylon. The place 
is well built, with broad, regular streets, and con¬ 
tains about 50,000 inhabitants. 


Map of Asia .—How is Hindoostan bounded ! What great chain of 
mountains on the northern border ! What island near the southern ex¬ 
tremity ! What part is called the Malabar coast ? The Coromandel 
coast ! Can you describe the river Ganges 1 Burrampooter ! Indus 1 
Nerbuddah! Kistna ? What is the capital of Hindoostan ! Where 
is Calcutta situated! Moorshedabad ! Patna! Benares! Agra! 
Delhi! Lahore! Cashmere! Hyderabad! Surat! Bombay? 
Poonah! Arungabad! Madras! Seringapatam? What other 
cities ! What cities on the island of Ceylon ! 


INDO-CHINESE COUNTPvIES. 

The Indo-Chinese countries, or India beyond the Ganges, 
also called Further India, comprises the extensive region situ¬ 
ated between India and China. 

The surface of this great territory is formed by a series of 
mountain ranges, between each of which intervenes a broad 
fertile valley, watered by a large river descending from the 

Of the animals peculiar to this region, the 
ourang-outang, [Fig. 165,] so well known for 
its remote resemblance to the human form, is 
the most singular. The Gibbon apes are 
smaller, and distinguished by the enormous 
length of their arms. 

The few birds brought from this region are 
splendid and curious. Malacca seems to 
abound with snow-white cockatoos, splendid 
red lories, and many-coloured parrots and pa- 
rokeets. The gigantic Argus pheasant is six 
Ourang-outang, Fig. 165. feet and a half long; and the crowned phea¬ 
sant, though much smaller, is a beautiful bird. 

What do the Indo-Chinese countries comprise ? What of the surface of 

these countries ? What of the animals ? Birds ? Wliat of the government } 






INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES. 


197 


The governments of all the kingdoms of Further India are, in 
principle, a despotism, without the least check on the authority 
of the monarch. 

The productive capacities of Further India are very ample. The 
principal culture consists of rice, sugar, pepper, and cotton. The sides 
of the ranges of hills are covered with timber of various species, and 
of great value, especially the teak tree, so valuable for ship-building. 

Animals are very little used for cultivation, but are chiefly used for 
conveyance or pomp, and, for this purpose, the elephant, here found in 
great numbers and in the highest perfection, and more highly prized 
tnan in any other country in the world, is chiefly employed. 

Manufactures exist oidy on a small scale, and in a very rude form, 
and commerce is also very limited, but Britain takes a considerable 
amount of teak timber, for which British manufactured goods are re¬ 
ceived in return. 

The people of Further India are a peculiar race. Their per¬ 
sons are robust and active, but their faces flat ? with high cheek 
bones, never suggest any idea of beauty. In intelligence they 
are decidedly superior to the Hindoos. 

The. religion of these countries, like all others of the east of 
Asia, is derived from Hindoostan, but it consists not in the 
Braminical doctrines, but in the rival System of Boodh. The 
priests reside in the temples, and live in a state of celibacy. 

Literature is by no means unknown in Further India. The 
Birman language is a compound of the ancient Pali, Tartar, 
and Chinese. 

The habitations of these countries are of slight materials; bamboos, 
fixed in the ground, and tied with strips of cotton, form the outline; co¬ 
vered with mats they form walls, and with grass the roof. A spacious 
mansion can be built in a day, and a tolerable one in four hours. 

The countries of Further India may be divided into the Bri¬ 
tish Territories, the Birman Empire, the kingdom of Siam, 
and the empire of Cochin China. 

The territories ceded to Britain by the emperor of Birmah, at 
the close of the late war, consist of Assam, Aracan, formerly a 
kingdom, and the provinces of Yeh, Tavoy, Mergui, Tennas- 
serim, and Martiban, extending along the western coast of the 
Malavan Peninsula. Malacca was ceded to Britain by. the 
Dutcn, in 1825, in exchange for Sumatra. 

The Birman Empire consists of two important divisions; 
Pegu, which comprises all the sea coast, and Ava, occupying 
the upper valley of the Irrawady. 

Rangoon, the grand emporium of the empire, is situated on one of the 

What productions ? For what are domestic animals chiefly employed ? What 
of the manufactures ? What of the people ? Their religion ? Literature ? 
Habitations ? What are the political divisions of Further India ? What does 
the British portion include Of what does the Birman Empire consist? 







198 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


branches of the river Pegu, and extends nearly a mile along the water. It is 
a huge assemblage of wooden huts, the custom-house being the only brick 
building. 

The capitals of the Birman Empire are situated nearly at the termination 
of the great plain of the Irrawady. Ava, the original capital, was abandoned 
for Umerapoora, but has lately been again made the seat of government. 

Of the kingdom of Siam very little is known. Bankok, the capital, may be 
regarded almost as a city floating in the water. The houses, thatched with 
palm leaves, are extremely neat, and extended in rows eight or ten feet from 
the shore, to which they are attached by long bamboos. 

Cochin China, along its whole coast, is composed of steep cliffs, between 
which and the sea there is scarcely a level interval. Cambodia and Tonquin 
are subject to Cochin China. 

Hue, the capital, consists of a large, triangular fort, or fortified city, each 
side of which is about a mile and a half in length, and would require forty 
thousand men to garrison it. 

Saigong, the capital of Cambodia, near the mouth of the river Donnai is a 
very large city, supposed to contain 180,000 inhabitants. It contains a superb 
naval arsenal, formed under European direction, which has produced one 
hundred and fifty galleys of the most beautiful construction. 

Tonquin, of the three kingdoms subject to Cochin China, is the largest and 
most valuable. Kesho, the capital, situated about twenty miles from the great 
river of Tonkin, is a large city said to contain more than 40,000 inhabitants. 

Map of Asia. —How is Further India bounded! In what part is 
Birmah ! Siam ! Anam ! Malacca ! Where is the Gulf of Ton- 
quin! Gulf of Siam! Malacca! Can you describe the Japanese 
River! Thaluayn River! Ava River! Where is Ava! Umera¬ 
poora ! Rangoon! Pegu! Prome! Aracan! Tavoy! Mergui! 
Siam or Bankok ! Hue ! Cambodia ! Kesho ! Malacca ! Patam ! 
What other places ! 


CHINA. 

China, a vast country, containing the greatest amount of 
population, and perhaps of wealth, united under one govern¬ 
ment, occupies a large portion of the southeast of Asia. 

The greater part of China consists of a level plain, alluvial, 
and sometimes marshy, but, in general, capable of the highest 
degree of cultivation, which it actually receives. 

There are some unimportant ranges of mountains in the in¬ 
terior, but the pride of China consists in the Hoang-Ho and 
Kiang-Ku, those mighty rivers which, rising from distant and 
almost unknown sources, traverse the whole breadth of the 
empire. 

The elevated country in the interior of China is overshadowed by 

What of Rangoon ? Ava and Umerapoora ? What of the kingdom of 
Siam ? What of Bankok ? What of Cochin China ? What of Hue, the ca¬ 
pital ? Saigong? Tonquin? Kesho? 

What is China ? Of w hat does it consist ? What mountains and rivers ? 



CHINA. 


199 





large forests of oak, poplar, walnut, mulberry, pine, and cypress, while 
the orange, lemon, peach, apricot, fig, vine, ana pomegranate flourish 
over a wide extent of country. Tne sugar¬ 
cane and orange are probably natives of 
China, and rice is more extensively culti¬ 
vated than in any other country. 

But the most peculiar and important pro¬ 
duction of China is the tea plant, [b ig. 166,] 
of which there are two varieties, the green 
and black. The plants grow wild, but when 
cultivated, are set in rows and kept trimmed 
at a convenient height for collecting the 
leaves. 

Of the animals of China, little is known. 

The Chinese oxen are of the humped kind, Tea P lant > Big. 166. 
and appear to be of two breeds ; one white, 
and of moderate size, [Fig. 167,] the other 
so small as not to exceed the size of a pig. 

There is not, and probably never was, 
a government more entirely despotic than 
the Chinese. No power, honour, or dis¬ 
tinction exists, except that which flows 
from the emperor. In practice, however, 
the government is the most mild and pro¬ 
tecting of any in existence. 

The military force of China [Fig. 168] White Ox, Fig. 167. 
has been represented in numbers, at least, as 


Chinese Military, Fig. 168. 

What vegetable productions? What of the tea plant? What of the ani¬ 
mals ? What is the form of government ? What of the military force ? Ma- 













200 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


very imposing, even to the amount of millions of men, but they are 
seldom called out unless to pursue robbers, or pass muster on stated 
occasions, and then their paper helmets, wadded gowns, quilted petti¬ 
coats, and clumsy satin boots, make a most unmilitary appearance. 

The Chinese government have a few armed vessels, and numerous 
barges, to prevent smuggling and piracy, but an American frigate 
would beat the whole of their maritime force. 

Agriculture is held in peculiar estimation in China, and no nation is 
so famed for industry, though farming is practised on a small scale, 
with rude instruments, and almost no cattle. The tea plant is a lead¬ 
ing article of culture, and also the mulberry, for feeding the silk¬ 
worms. The sugar-cane, rice, cotton, and tobacco are the other most 
important productions. 

The Chinese are eminent as a manufacturing people. The fabric of 
porcelain originated entirely with them, and silk goods, cotton stuff, 
called nankeen, lacquered ware, and a variety of ornamental articles 
and toys are made with a beauty which other nations in vain attempt 
to rival. 

Of the foreign trade of China, the European part is the most con¬ 
siderable, and is chiefly in the hands of the English. The trade with 
the United States is also extensive. Tea is the most important article 
brought from China, to which may be added the nankeens, silks, and 
other minor articles. 

The internal navigation of China, by means of canals, is very ex¬ 
tensive, but they are mere artificial rivers, the Chinese being unac¬ 
quainted with the use of locks. The Imperial, or Great Canal, is 500 
miles in length; and, in connexion with the rivers, with only one short 
interruption, completes a line of 1000 miles of navigation, from Pekin 
to Canton. 

The Great Wall of China is, perhaps, unrivalled among the 
productions of human labour. It is more than 1000 miles in 
length, and is seen extending along the ridges of hills, over the 
tops of the highest mountains, and crossing the deepest valleys, 
and over rivers on arches. 

The average height of the Great Wall is thirty feet, and the top is 
paved, and so broad that a carriage can drive along it. It was built 
to prevent the invasions of the Tartars, but is now of no importance. 

The Chinese appear to belong to the Mongol race; their complexion 
is of a sickly white, or pale yellow colour, but a general good humour 
reigns in their aspect and proceeding. 

The Chinese differ from the other orientals in their food, and in their 
manner of taking it. Instead of squatting on the floor, and eating 
with their fingers, they sit on chairs, eat off tables, and raise the food 
to their mouths with chop-sticks. Their dishes consist, in a great 
measure, of confectionary and fruits. 

One favourite dish among the rich consists of the soups made of ge- 

ritime force ? Agriculture ? Manufactures ? Foreign trade ? Internal na¬ 
vigation ? The Great Wall ? Can you describe the Great Wall ? To what 
race do the Chinese belong ? What peculiar mode of taking their meals? 


CHINA. 


201 


latinous birds’-nests, procured from the East India Islands. The people 
often eat rats, mice, and puppies, and silk-worms are considered a 
luxury. 

All the lakes, broad rivers, and sheltered bays of China are covered 
with floating cities, the crowded population of which have no home 
but on the water, and subsist chiefly by fishing. 

The Chinese have no system of religion connected with the state, 
except the belief in a Supreme Being, and the emperor his immediate 
vicegerent on earth. The people, however, have embraced the sect of 
Fo, which is essentially the same as that of Boodh, which prevails in 
Thibet and Tartary. They have numerous temples filled with idols. 

Learning, in China, is the high road to preferment, and the literature 
is very extensive, though little known to Europeans. No nation can 
boast such a mass of historical annals. 

Pekin, the celebrated capital of the Chinese Empire, stands almost in a 
corner of China, being only about forty miles distant from the great wall. 
The city is twelve miles in circumference, surrounded by a wall like every 
other city of China, but those of Pekin are particularly lofty, being seventy 
feet high. The population probably exceeds 2,000,000. 

Nankin, the ancient capital, in extent considerably exceeds Pekin, but since 
the seat of government was removed it has greatly declined. It still con¬ 
tinues the chief manufacturing city, and its silks, paper, and cottons are pre¬ 
ferred to those made elsewhere. The celebrated porcelain tower, in its 
pagoda, is the chief architectural monument of the empire. Population, 
1 , 000 , 000 . 

Canton, [Fig. 169,] the 
best known city of China, 
and with which alone fo¬ 
reign nations are allowed 
to carry on habitual inter¬ 
course, is situated at the 
junction of the river Peki- 
ang with the Taho, whose 
united streams below the 
city expand into a broad 
estuary called the Bocca 
Tigris. 

Canton itself is five miles 
in circumference, besides 
which, its extensive su- Canton, Fig. 169. 

burbs compose another 
citv. Even the Bocca Ti¬ 
gris itself, fifty miles long, and twenty broad, is covered with floating man¬ 
sions, arranged in streets, the tenants of which have no home on the land. 
Canton is the sole theatre of the foreign trade with China. Population, 
500,000. 

The little that is knowm of Corea may, with propriety, be appended 
to China. Corea is ruled by a king who pays homage and a small 
tribute to China, but in his general sway is independent. The peo- 

What peculiar kinds of food ? How does a large portion of the population 
live ? What of the religion of the Chinese? Learning? What of Pekin ? 
Nankin ? Canton? The extent of Canton? What of Corea? The Loo Choo 
Islands ? The island of Formosa ? 



9* 














202 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


pie, in manners and customs, closely resemble the Chinese. Ivingki- 
tao is the capital. 

There are a few islands belonging to China which deserve notice, 
of which the most interesting are the Loo Choo Islands. The great 
Loo Choo is sixty miles in length, and is represented as one of the 
most beautiful on the globe. It is the principal of a group of thirty-six, 
situated 400 miles from the eastern coast of China. 

The island of Formosa is also in possession of fhe Chinese, and 
may rank among their best provinces. Its surface is finely diversified, 
and watered by numerous rivulets. Hainan is a large island near the 
southern extremity of China; and though in sight of vessels going to 
Canton, is very little known or visited. 


Map of Asia .—How is the Chinese Empire bounded ! In what part 
of the empire is China 1 In what part is Chinese Tartary 1 In what 
nart is Thibet 1 How is China bounded ! Can you describe the river 
Hoang-Ho! Yangtse Kiang! What south of China! Where is 
the Eastern Sea! what sea between China and Corea! Where are 
the Loo Choo Islands! Formosa! Hainan! Macao! Where is 
the Great Canal! What divisions of the Chinese Empire does the 
Great Wall separate! Where is Pekin! Nankin! Canton! What 
other cities and towns ! What places in Corea! 


THIBET. 

Thibet forms a mountain region of a very peculiar character, 
$ nd consists of a great and long valley, enclosed between the 
’ immaleh Mountains and the Kuenlen, another mountain range 
w hich brandies off from it. 

Thibet presents a region every way distinct from Hindoostan, 
from which it is separated only by the Himmaleh Mountains. 
Its rude plains are covered with scanty herbage, and diversified 
by rocky heights, under whose shelter a few rough-built villages 
find protection from the chilly winds of the snow-clad moun¬ 
tains. 

Besides its mountain features, Thibet is distinguished for giving rise 
to the Indus and Sanpoo, and perhaps to the great rivers of China, and 
some of the largest rivers of Asia. 

The mountain declivities of Thibet, when the elevation is moderate, 
produce spruce, fir, juniper, oak, birch, ash, horsechestnut, and some 
ethers, among whicn the apricot, walnut, and apple trees grow wild in 
the forests. 

What is the general character of Thibet ? In what respects does it differ 
from Hindoostan ? For what is Thibet distinguished ? What of the vegeta- 




THIBET. 


203 



Musk Deer, Fig. 170. 


The _ musk deer [Fig. 170] of Thibet re¬ 
ceives its name from the valuable drug it pro¬ 
duces. The animal is about the size of the 
roebuck, and the flesh is esteemed for food, 
though strongly impregnated with musk. 

Among the very few birds of this region is 
the horned pheasant, a beautiful bird which, 
in size and general appearance, is between the 
fowl and the turkey. 

Thibet, in respect to agriculture, la¬ 
bours under many disadvantages. The 
general character of the soil is bleak, bar¬ 
ren, and poor. Wheat and barley can be growTi only in some 
favoured situations, and often fail of coming to maturity. The 
pastures, however, support large flocks of sheep and herds of 
cattle. 

Among the most valuable animals of Thibet is the yak, a species 
of buffalo, but in some respects resembling a horse. It is not employ¬ 
ed in agriculture, but in carrying burdens. Its tail, composed of long, 
soft, flowing hair, under the name of chowrie, forms a considerable ar¬ 
ticle of trade, being used for ornament and to drive away insects. 

Thibet also produces the goat which yields the fine, soft wool, used 
in manufacturing the shawls of Cashmere. The sheep, also, are of 
peculiar value; the mutton being, perhaps, the best in the world, and 
the fleece extremely fine, soft, and silky. 

Thibet seems also to abound in minerals, though the imperfect skill 
of the inhabitants renders them of little value. Gold, copper, lead, 
and mercury are found, and borax and rock salt are abundant. 

The manufactures of Thibet are rude and only adapted for immediate 
consumption, but commerce with India and China exists on a consi¬ 
derable scale. The exports are gold, musk, shawl-wool, and sheep¬ 
skins ; the imports from Bengal, moth, tobacco, spices, and toys; from 
China, tea, porcelain, and silk. 

The whole of Thibet now forms a province of China, but the sway 
of the emperor is mild, and does not interfere with the original plan o- 
the internal administration. The Chinese governor and military com¬ 
mander reside at Lassa. 

The government of Thibet, so far as it is free from Chinese influ¬ 
ence, is altogether priestly, the Lama, or high priest, being the sove¬ 
reign, while the inferior priests compose the nobility. 

As soon as the Lama dies the priests pretend to discover an infant into 
whom his soul is supposed to have transmigrated, and he is immedi¬ 
ately exalted to the character of Lama. 

In Thibet, and the adjoining regions of Tartary, every distinct dis¬ 
trict has its Lama, but the chief of these spiritual sovereigns resides at 
Lassa, and next to him is the Lama of Teshoo Lomboo. 

hie productions? What animals? Birds? What of the agricultural pro¬ 
ductions ? What of the yak? Goat? What of the minerals? Manufac¬ 
tures ? What does Thibet now form ? What of the government of Thibet ? 
When the Lama dies what takes place ? What others besides the chief Lama ? 






204 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 



Lass A, the capital spiritual and temporal, is situated in the finest part of 
Thibet, a valley surrounded by stupendous mountains. The winters are se¬ 
vere, but the summers warm, so that rice, the vine, and other fine fruits come 
to maturity. 

The ordinary buildings in Thibet are very rude, but the religious edifices, 
which combine the triple character of temples, monasteries, and palaces, dis¬ 
play extreme splendour. The palace of die Grand Lama at Poololah, near 

Lassa, is said to be three 
hundred and sixty-seven 
feet high, to contain ten 
thousand apartments filled 
with images of gold and 
silver, and to have its roof 
richly gilded. 

The seat of the Lama, 
second to the Grand Lama 
at Lassa, is at Teshoo 
Lomboo, where about four 
hundred mansions com¬ 
bine to form a large mo- 

Palace of Teshoo Lomboo, Fig. 171. ££* 5E 

of which are built of stone, 

the roofs of coloured wood, crowned with numerous canopies and turrets. 


Map of Asia .—How is Thibet bounded 1 Can you describe the Bur- 
rampooter River 1 What is the extent and direction of the Himmaleh 
Mountains I Where is Lassa 1 What other places in Thibet 1 


TARTARY. 

Tartary is the name given to that immense region extending 
almost entirely across Asia, from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific 
Ocean. Independent Tartary includes the portion near the 
Caspian Sea. The eastern part forms a portion of the Chinese 
Empire. 

The great chains of mountains are the Altai, which separate it 
from the dreary regions of Siberia, and the Kuenl'en, which 
separate it from Thibet. 

A considerable number of rivers traverse the high table land 
of Tartary, many of which are lost in salt lakes or seas. The 
Caspian, the largest inland sea on the globe, besides the great 
river Volga, from Europe, receives the torrents of the Caucasus, 
and the sea of Aral receives the Oxus and Jaxartes. 

The Mongolian horse inhabits, in troops, the great deserts of central 
Asia. It resembles a mule in appearance, and runs almost with the ra¬ 
pidity of lightning. The Tartars hunt them for their flesh, but have 
never succeeded in taming them. 

What of Lassa ? What of the buildings ? What of the Lama of Teshoo 
Lomboo ? 

To what country is the name of Tartary given ? Which are the great chains 







TARTARY. 


205 


The fat-ramped sheep is a breed raised in southern Tartary. It has 
small horns, long ears, and good wool. Another breed, with broad 
tails, and sometimes six horns, has poor wool. 

Tartary, with few exceptions, is a poor country. Although, 
in some favoured districts, there are fixed tribes who cultivate 
the ground, the general aspect is that of a pastoral region. 

Horses are the wealth and strength of Tartary. They are of great 
weight, and possess the power of making immense journeys without 
pause or fatigue. "They form a regular article of trade, and are in great 
demand for the cavalry of Persia and India. For food, also, horse flesh 
is the standing dish from one end of Tartary to the other, and mare’s 
milk, fermented into a liquor called koumiss, is almost the only liquor 
used for convivial occasions. 

In the southern and milder tracts, wheat, barley, and millet are pro¬ 
duced, but the northern and ruder districts scarcely yield any thing ex¬ 
cept oats. Rhubarb, so useful as a medicine, and ginseng, so highly 
valued in Tartary and China, grow on the southern declivities ol the 
Altai. 

The government of all the Tartar races is a complete despot¬ 
ism. 1’he vast tribes under Chinese dominion, comprising 
about two-thirds of all Tartary, are subject to despotism over 
despotism; first by the native khan, or prince, and then by the 
military occupation of a foreign power. 

The military force of Tartary consists of cavalry which, in 
all respects, are scarcely equalled, perhaps, in the world. W ith 
them, Zenghis Khan, Timur, and other Tartar conquerors 
have, at different times, overrun nearly the whole of Asia and 
Europe. 

The Mongols and Turks are the two leading races among the various 
tribes who inhabit the immense regions of Tartary, each of which con¬ 
sists of several divisions known under different names. 

The only manufactures are some coarse fabrics, such as felt, coarse 
woollens, and sheep skins, for internal consumption. Commerce is 
carried on by caravans, which rendezvous at i arkand to cross the 
great desert of Cobi. The Russians have opened a great trade with 
Independent Tartary, by means of caravans, from Orenburg to Bokhara, 
which frequently consists of 30,000 men, but from Chinese Tartary 
they are rigorously excluded. 

Two religions divide Tartar} 7 ; all its eastern regions acknowledge 
the supremacy of the Grand Lama of Thibet, while the countries be¬ 
yond tire Oxus are devoted to the Mahomedan creed. 

The learning of Tartary is little known, but in the Mahomedan 
states the elements of knowledge are widely diffused, and in the few 
great cities there are colleges for instruction in the sciences on as grand 
a scale as any in Europe. 

of mountains ? What of the rivers and seas ? What of the Mongolian 
horse ? What breeds of sheep ? What is the general character of Tartary ? 
What constitutes the chief wealth of Tartary ? What are the productions ? 
What of the government? The military force? Which are the leading 
i tribes of people ? What of tire manufactures? Commerce? What two re- 





206 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The Mandshurs, or Mantchoos, occupy the most eastern division of 
Tartary. West of them is the country of the Mongols, occupying the 
extensive table land, and including the great desert of Snamo, or 
Cobi. Near the Belur Mountains is Little Bucharia, and adjoining the 
Caspian is Independent Tartary, occupied chiefly by the Kirgees. 

Cashgar, in Little Bucharia, is described as a handsome and ancient 
city, the seat of government, and a place of considerable trade. Yar¬ 
kand is a large and still handsome city, a place of immense resort, and 
filled with caravansaries for the reception of strangers. Population, 


50,000. 


Bokhara, in Independent Tartary, is a large city, a great seat of Mahome- 
dan learning, and contains a number of mosques and colleges handsomely 
built of stone. Population, 150,000. 

Samarcand, once the renowned capital of Asia, is little better than a heap 
of ruins. Its walls still enclose a circuit of forty-eight miles, and the beauty 
of its environs, and the delicacy of its fruits, are still extolled in the same lofty 
strains as those used by the writers of the middle ages. Balk is a very ancient 
city, now also nearly in ruins. Khieva is poorly built, and is rather a fixed en¬ 
campment than a regular town. 


Map of Asia .—How is Chinese Tartary bounded I Where is the 
island of Saghalien ? The channel of Tartary 1 Sea of Japan ? Sea 
of_ Okhotsk? Can you describe the Saghalien River? Nonni Oula? 
Where is Lake NorZaizan? Balkask Lake? Koko Nor? What 
great chain of mountains between Tartary and Siberia ? Where is the 
great desert of Shamo? Sandy Desert? Where is Cashgar? Yar¬ 
kand ? Ivaten ? Hami ? Petoune ? What towns on the Saghalien 
River ? What other towns ? 

How is Independent Tartary bounded ? Where is the Caspian Sea ? 
The Sea of Aral? Can you describe the river Oxus? Ural River? 
Where is Samarcand ? Bokhara ? Khieva ? Khojund? What other 
towns I 


ASIATIC RUSSIA. 


# Asiatic Russia consists of Russia on the Caspian and Sibe¬ 
ria regions, which differ greatly from each other in climate and 
deal character. 



Russia on the Caspian receives its most prominent features 
from its connexion with that immense body of salt water ? which 
forms the most extensive inland sea in the world, being six hun¬ 
dred miles in length, with a general breadth of from ninety to 
one hundred and twenty miles. 

Between the Black Sea and the Caspian extends the wide re¬ 
gion entirely covered with lofty mountains, to which the an¬ 
cients gave the name of Caucasus, and which, in ruggedness of 

ligions ? Learning? What, part of the country do the different tribes occu¬ 
py ? What of the Cashgar ? Bokhara ? Samarcand ? 

Of what two portions does Asiatic Russia consist ? What of Russia on the 
Caspian? What of the region between the Black and Caspian Sea ? What 




ASIATIC RUSSIA. 


207 


aspect as well as height, is surpassed by few mountain chains on 
the globe. The highest peak rises 16,500 feet above the level of 
the sea. 

Though this territory owns the power of Russia, the people have 
never been reduced to the same abject servitude with other portions of 
the empire, and, in many cases, give little more than a nominal obe¬ 
dience. 

The animals mentioned by travellers as inhabiting the Caucasian re¬ 
gions, are the lynx, chamois, ibex, several kinds of antelopes, and a 
species of small tiger. The bison also, though extinct in Europe, is 
still sheltered in these wild recesses. 

Wine of middling quality, a little silk, some skins and furs, with 
honey, comprise nearly the whole of the articles of trade. One of the 
chief sources of wealth arises from the immense quantity of fish, par¬ 
ticularly sturgeon, which the Caspian Sea and its tributary rivers 
supply. 

The Caucasians and Georgians chiefly occupy the mountain valley 
I of the Caucasus. They are fine races of people, and the females are 
gTeatly celebrated throughout the East for their beauty. 

Astrachan, near the mouth of the Volga, is the most important city of this 
region. Its chief wealth is derived from the fisheries it carries on, and it has 
also an extensive trade with the interior of Russia in Europe. The popula¬ 
tion, amounting to 70,000, consists of Russians, Greeks, English, French, and 
even Hindoos. 

Orenburg, on the Ural, is rather a well-built town, of about 10,000 inhabit¬ 
ants, from which caravans depart for Khieva, Bokhara, Kokan, and other cities 
in the interior depths of Asia. 

Tiflis, in Georgia, on the river Kur, is a poorly-built town, with a strong 
castle. It consists of a collection of flat roofed dwellings, with very small 
j doors and paper windows. Population, 15,000. 

Siberia is the most northerly of the three great belts into 

I which Asia is divided. Its features are peculiar to itself, and 
like those of the other portions of the continent, are on a grand 
scale. 

Siberia, on the west, is separated from Europe by the Ural 
Mountains, and on the south is the long line of the Altai, which 

II separates jt from Tartary. 

The Obi, Irtish, Yenesei, and Lena, the most important rivers 
of Siberia, are amongst the largest of the ancient world, and the 
! great lake Baikal is almost entitled to the name of an inland sea. 

The southern portions of Siberia contain some extensive forests of 
pine, birch, and poplar, but further north eternal snow and ice forbid 
vegetation even of the most scanty kind. 

The principal animals of Siberia are the reindeer, elk, bear, wolf, 

is the condition of the people ? What animals in the Caucasian regions ? 
What productions ? What of the Caucasians and Georgians ? Wliat of As¬ 
trachan? Orenburg? Tiflis? 

What is the general character of Siberia ? What mountains separate it from 
Europe ? From Tartary ? Which are the principal rivers ? What of the 







208 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


fox, marmot, and martin, which are common to both the Russias and 
the neighbouring regions. An immense species of elephant formerly 
belonged to the frozen regions of Siberia, an entire skeleton of one 
having been found emerging from a mass of ice on the shores of the 
White Sea. 

Of the birds, the great bustard of Europe is spread over the deserts, 
with the swallow-tailed pratincole, a noisy and restless little bird. 
Partridges and quails are also common. 

European and Asiatic Russia are alike subject to the same 
simple government, that of a simple despotism. Siberia is di¬ 
vided into several governments, of which those of Tobolsk and 
Irkoutsk are the most important. 

The Greek Church is the established religion of the Russian 
Empire, but the native tribes of the western part of Siberia fol¬ 
low the Mahomedan religion, while over all the eastern part 
full sway is held by that system of Boodh called the Shaman re¬ 
ligion. The Banuida Lama, the great head of this religion, so 
far as Siberia is concerned, has his residence beyond the lake 
Baikal. 

Agricultural industry affords less wealth to Siberia than to any other 
country of equal extent, the greater portion of it being bound in perpe¬ 
tual frost and snow, yet along the Upper Yenesei, and some other tracts, 
immense crops of oats, barley, and rye are produced. 

With respect to mines, Siberia may rank among the richest countries 
on the earth. East of the Ural a sort of mineral empire commences, 
and gold, silver, platina, copper, iron, with the diamond and other pre¬ 
cious stones, are found in that chain, which, as well as the Altai range, 
is rich in mineral productions. 

The productions of the chase form a source of wealth inferior only to 
that of the minerals, the rich and soft furs from the animals of this re¬ 
gion forming the most important article of commerce. The most va¬ 
luable is that produced from that species of weasel called the sable. 

The abundance of fish in the rivers and seas of Siberia is inexhausti¬ 
ble. The eastern bays of Asia, and the seas thence extending to 
America, swarm with whales, seals, otters, sea calves, the walrus, and 
other marine animals of the same species, which afford an abundant 
supply to the rude inhabitants of the coast and islands. 

The numerous little lakes and marshy grounds are covered with vast 
flights of water-fowl, such as wild ducks, wild geese, swans, and other 
aquatic birds. 

The commerce of Siberia labours under great disadvantages, both 
from distance and the want of navigable rivers, in the line of commu¬ 
nication. Skins and furs, both of sea and land animals, form the 
principal articles of trade. 

The very scanty population of Siberia consists of two very distinct 

forests? What animals? Birds? What of the government? Religion? 
Agriculture ? Mines ? What other sources of wealth ? What of the fish 
and marine animals ? What of the waterfowl ? What of the population ? 


ASIATIC RUSSIA. 


209 


portions, the foreign rulers and native tribes. The Russians consist 
chiefly of those who have been banished to these remote regions by 
the government. The native Siberian races are Tartars, both in their 
origin and character, and in the extreme north have become a very 
meager and stunted race. 

Tobolsk, the capital of all Siberia, is placed on a high rocky eminence, 
overlooking a vast plain, in which the Irtish and Tobol blend their mighty 
waters. It is built wholly of wood, and all the trade of Siberia passes 
through it. 

Irkoutsk, near the lake Baikal, and near that point of the Chinese frontier 
where the only land commerce is admitted with Russia, is the handsomest in 
appearance, and most elegant in society, of any in Siberia. 

Yakoutsk, on the Lena, is built of wood, and contains about 7000 inhabit¬ 
ants. Nothing can be mox*e bleak than the appearance and situation of its en¬ 
virons, but it has a considerable trade in furs. 

A large and long peninsula, called Kamtschatka, extends into 
the ocean which waters the eastern extremity of Asia. It is a 
cold and very dreary region, producing no grain, though there 
! are various kinds of 
berries and some roots 
j which, when dried, 
j supply the place of 
bread. It also abounds 
in animals, birds, and 
fish, to an extent un- 
| rivalled in any other 
country in the world. 

The most singular pe- 
Sj culiarity of the inhabit¬ 
ants is the use of dogs, Sledge and Dogs, Fig. 172. 

i harnessed to sledges, 

| [Fig. 172,] and employed to draw them, and by whose assistance they 
l are able to travel with great speed. 

Map of Asia. —How is Asiatic Russia bounded ! Can you describe 
I the Altai Mountains ! The Ural Mountains 1 Where is the Sea of Ok¬ 
hotsk! Sea of Obi! Sea of Kara! Anadir Gulf! Lake Baikal ! 

! Tchany Lake ! Where is Cape Lopatka! Fodsia! What capes on 
i the coast of the Arctic Ocean! YVhere is the peninsula of Kamt¬ 
schatka ! Bhering’s Island ! Second Island ! Nova Zembla! Can 

! you describe the river Obi! Irtish! Tobol! Yenesei! Lena! In- 
digherka ! Covima! Anadir River ! What towns on the river Obi! 
On the Yenesei! Ural! Where is Astrachan! Tobolsk! Irkoutsk! 
Yakoutsk! Okhotsk ! What towns on the peninsula of Kamtschat¬ 
ka ! Where is Azov ! Mosdok ! What other towns ! 

What of Tobolsk ? Irkoutsk ? Yakoutsk ? Wha of Kamtschatka ? How 
do the inhabitants travel ? 








210 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


JAPAN. 

Japan has an affinity to China in the nature of its institutions, 
the character of its inhabitants, and in the circumstances which 
separate it from the rest of the world. The empire of Japan in¬ 
cludes the island of Niphon, Jesso, Kiusiu, and Sikoke. 

The aspect of Japan is bold, varied, and striking. Rugged 
mountains traverse the interior, from one of which, called Pusi, 
volcanic fires are thrown up, but a great portion of the surface 
of Japan consists of fertile valleys and extended plains. 

The trees on the mountains consist chiefly 
of the lime, Scotch fir, spruce, and larch. 
Among- the numerous flowering plants, many 
of which are very beautiful, the hydrangea 
[Fig. 173] claims this as its native country. 

Wild quadrupeds scarcely exist, but a tew 
birds of great splendour appear to be peculiar 
to this part of Asia. The Japan peacock is 
entirely distinct from that of India, and the 
silk cock [Fig. 174] receives its name from 
being covered with feathers resembling silky 
hairs. 

The Portuguese who first discovered Japan 
at first carried on a great trade, and converted 
several of the nobles. Numbers of the com¬ 
mon people were converted to the Roman Ca¬ 
tholic religion, but a violent persecution arose, 
and all the Christians were entirely extermi¬ 
nated. Since that period no European has 
been allowed to enter the country. The 
Dutch only are permitted to have a small fac¬ 
tory at Nangasaki, to which they are confined 
as in a prison. 

.The division of power between the 
Diari or ecclesiastical, and the Cubo or 
military potentate, is the most remarkable peculiarity in the 
government of Japan. The Dairi holds the highest rank and the 
first place in the veneration of the whole nation, but the Cubo 
absorbs all the solid realities of power, and rules with an au¬ 
thority which has no limitation. 

The Japanese rank with the richest and most industrious na- 



Silk Cock, Fig. 174. 


In what respects does Japan resemble China ? What islands does the em¬ 
pire of Japan include ? What is the general aspect of Japan ? What of the 
trees and flowering plants ? What of the wild quadrupeds ? Birds ? What 
of the discovery of Japan ? Their conversion to Christianity ? What after¬ 
wards took place ? What nation has a small factory at Nangasaki ? What is 
the most remarkable peculiarity in the government of Japan ? What of the 
Diari ? The Cubo ? What of the wealth of the Japanese ? The soil ? 



JAPAN. 


211 

tions. Their fertile soil and even the mountains are cultivated 
with the most exemplary diligence. Rice is the pride of Japan¬ 
ese agriculture, and the main staff of life; wheat and barley 
are standard grains, and beans and turnips almost serve for the 
support of the inhabitants. 

The mulberry tree, for feeding the silk-worms, is extensively culti¬ 
vated. Tea is in universal demand, and the plants form the hedges. 
The tree called arusi distils the varnish used on the rich lacquered ware. 
Figs and chestnuts are the principal fruit trees, and fir and cypress fur- 
| nish the most valuable timber for ship-building, 
j Oxen and a large species of buffalo are used chiefly for carriages 
and ploughing. Horses of a small size, and not very numerous, serve 
for state and travelling; and dogs, by imperial favour, have multiplied 
so as to be a nuisance. 

j Fishing forms a very important source of Japanese subsistence. 
Whales, in great numbers, come down from the Polar seas, and are 
caught by the harpoon. The oil is highly prized, and every part, flesh, 
skin, intestines, and bones, are boiled, roasted, fried, and eaten. The 
coasts are covered with tortoises, crabs, oysters, and other shell-fish, 
which are eagerly collected for food. 

Minerals form the peculiar wealth of Japan. Gold is found in 
abundance. _ Silver is rather scarce; but copper, the finest in the world, 
is found in immense quantities. Iron is found in one part of the em- 
: pire, but is scarcer and dearer than copper. 

The manufacturing industry of Japan is exerted in the same branches 
i as with the Chinese. Silk, cotton, and porcelain, which do not equal, 
and lacquered ware which is superior to that made in China. 

The Chinese have huge junks which sail through all the oriental 
; islands, but nowhere is a Japanese flag ever seen. Their vessels, little 
i better than clumsy boats, can do little more than creep along their own 
' coast. The Chinese, Coreans, and Dutch are allowed to visit Nanga- 
j saki for commercial purposes. The interior commerce is very active, 
j The roads are good, and thronged to an amazing degree. 

In personal appearance the Japanese are an improved variety of the 
| Mongols and Chinese, but entirely different from the Chinese in cha¬ 
racter ; they are said to be marked by energy and independence of cha¬ 
racter, and to possess a lofty sense of honour. 

There are two religions in Japan; one native, called the Sintas, at 
the head of which is the Dairi; the other that of Boodh, called here 
Budso, the same which prevails all over eastern Asia. 

Of the Japanese arts and sciences we have little knowledge. Their 
mode of printing, and ideas generally, are the same with the Chinese, 
but their minds are much more active, and endowed with the most 
eager curiosity on all subjects. 

The buildings in Japan are exceedingly slight; the walls of 
clay, and the interior divided by pasteboard partitions, covered with 

Productions ? What other useful trees and plants ? What domestic animals ? 
What of the fishery ? Minerals } Manufactures ? Shipping and commerce ? 
What is the personal appearance of the Japanese ? What of the religions ? 







212 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


paper, which, in the houses of the rich, are elegantly painted and var¬ 
nished. 

Jeddo, now the seat of the ruling power, and the real capital of Japan, is 
situated at the head of a deep bay, on the eastern coast of Niphon. It is seven 
miles long, and five broad, and contains many splendid palaces of the great 
lords, though they are all only one story high. The enclosure of the em¬ 
peror’s palace is five leagues in circumference, and the grand apartment of 
the palace, the hall of the thousand mats, is six hundred feet long, and three 
hundred broad, brilliantly adorned with pillars of cedar, painted papers, and 
gilded dragons, on the roof. Population, 1,000,000. 

Meaco, near the southern extremity of Niphon, is the seat of the Diari, and 
is the spiritual capital of Japan. It is also the chief seat of literature, refined 
arts, polished manners, and intellectual culture. The palace resembles that of 
Jeddo, and the temples, built of cedar and richly gilded, are truly splendid. 
Population, 529,000. 

Osako, at the mouth of the river on which Meaco is situated, is a flourish¬ 
ing seaport. Matsmai, the capital of Jesso, is also a large town, containing 
50,000 inhabitants. 

Nangasaki, a large Industrious trading town, is the only point at which the 
empire of Japan comes in contact with any foreign nation. On the little 
island of Desma adjoining, the Dutch have a space six hundred feet long, and 
one hundred and twenty wide, where they are allowed to carry on their 
scanty commerce. 


Map of Asia .—How are the Japan Islands bounded I Which of the 
Japan Islands is the largest? Which is the second in size? Third ? 
Fourth ? Which of the Japan Islands extends furthest north ? Which 
furthest south? Furthest east? Furthest west? Where is the sea 
of Japan ? Perouse Strait ? Bay of Good Hope ? CapeAwa? What 
city is the capital of the Japan Islands ! Where is Jeddo situated ? 
Meaco? Nangasaki? 


EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 

The East Indian Archipelago is the name given to a range 
of fine and large islands, lying southeast of Asia. The prin¬ 
cipal islands of this range are Sumatra, Java, Borneo, the Mo¬ 
luccas, and the Philippines. 

Mountains, in lofty ranges, traverse the interior of all the 
great islands, and Mount Ophir, in Sumatra, rises to the height 
of 15,842 feet. The mountain ranges are crowned almost to 
their tops with lofty forests, luxuriant shrubs, and aromatic 
plants, presenting the finest scenery. Rivers, of course, attain 
no great length. 

The islands of the Indian Archipelago are distinguished for 

Arts and sciences? Buildings ? What of Jeddo ? Meaco ? Osako ? Mats¬ 
mai ? Nangasaki? 

To what is the name of East Indian Archipelago given ? What mountains 
do these islands contain? For what are they distinguished? What of the 





EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 213 

the splendour and fragrance of the vegetable productions. The 
flower of a parasitic plant, discovered by Sir Stamford Raffles, 
is three feet and a half in diameter, and weighs fifteen pounds. 

The nepenthes, or pitcher plant, [Fig. 175,] is remarkable for 
having the end of its leaf turned up so as to form a complete pitcher, 
filled with water, and covered with a lid. 



The cinnamon tree, for which these islands, as well as that of Cey¬ 
lon, is famous, is a species of laurel. Camphor [Fig. 176] is the pro¬ 
duce of another species of laurel, and is obtained by distilling the roots 
and smaller branches of the tree. 

The clove [Fig. 176] is one of the most precious commodities of 
the east, and one of the most valuable in commerce. The clove of 
merchandise is the expanded flower of the plant dried in the sun. 



The nutmeg tree [Fig. 177] is chiefly a native of the Banda Islands, 
where it bears both blossoms and fruit at all seasons of the year. 

The pepper plant is a vine which attaches itself to the ground like 
ivy, ana bears large heart-shaped leaves, succeeded by berries which 
■we call pepper-corns. 

The betel pepper [Fig. 179] resembles the common kind, but the 
berries are much larger. In the East Indies, and especially in the Ma¬ 
lay Islands, the inhabitants consider the betel pepper as a necessary of 
life, and the leaf, with quicklime and the areca nut, is chewed by both 
sexes and all ages. 

pitcher plant ? Cinnamon tree ? Clove ? Nutmeg ? Pepper plant ? Betel 





214 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 



Betel Pepper, Fig. 179. 



Guava, Fig. 180. 



Mango, Fig. 181. 


Among the numerous fruits of these islands 
are the guava, [Fig. 180 ,] mango, [Fig. 181 ,] 
mongoostan, and durion, all of which are high¬ 
ly prized for food in their native country. 

In these islands animal as well as vegetable 
life exhibits the most singular shapes, and the 
most brilliant combination of colours. The 
great satyr-like apes, the superbly coloured 
lories, and the birds of paradise, form the most 
striking groups. 

The monkey tribe are exceedingly numerous, 
of which the long-armed black ape is upwards 
of three feet high, and very strong. The pole¬ 
cats, civets, genets, tupays, wild cats, squirrels, ana other small animals 
are exceedingly numerous. 

The appearance of the bats is striking, 
both from their size and strange conformation. 
t The tippet bat measures in extent of wing two 
* feet, with a head shaped like a hog, and the 
head of the long-snouted bat [Fig. 181 ] re¬ 
sembles that of tne greyhound. 

Two distinct species of rhinoceros are found 
in these islands, one kind having two, and the 
other one horn. The Malay tapir is nearly the 
size of a buffalo, and so mild and gentle that 
it will become as tame and familiar as a dog. 
Regarding the elephant, few attempts have been made to catch and 
tame the wild troops which are extremely numerous in the forests. Ti¬ 
gers also abound in some of the islands. The horses are small, but 
there is a fine breed of cattle, and reddish-white buffaloes are common. 

The barbarousa hog is an extremely curious animal, found chiefly in 
Amboyna. The tusks are enormous, and appear more like curled horns 
rising out of the jaws than teeth. 

Crocodiles are abundant in the rivers, and often attain a fearful size, 



Long-snouted Bat, 
Fig. 182. 


pepper ? What of the fruits ? What curious animals and birds ? What of 
the monkey tribe ? Bats ? Rhinoceros ? Tapir ? Elephant ? Barbarousa 




EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 


215 


while in the forests are found many kinds of serpents, some remarkable 
for size and others for their venom. 

The birds of these islands are numerous, and many of them possess 
great beauty. The green fruit-eater, the great-billed tody, and parrots 
of several kinds are among the most common birds. 

The yellow-billed cuckoo has the throat of a rich glossy violet, the 
body being white, with black lines. The doves have very beautiful 
colours, and the gigantic Argus pheasant, in elegance of form and rich¬ 
ness of attire, is perhaps unequalled among the feathered race. 

The people of these islands are mostly oppressed by chiefs or 
j petty sovereigns, where European influence does not exist, who 
exercise a despotic authority. The Dutch claim the sovereignty 
of all these islands except the Philippines, which are in posses¬ 
sion of the Spaniards. 

As to soil and climate, the Indian Islands rank among the 
most favoured on the globe, and they yield in abundance not 
only all the tropical productions, but exquisite spices and fruits 
peculiar to their native soil. The clove, nutmeg, and pepper 
are among the most valuable kinds. The sugar-cane and indigo 
plant, with coffee, which has been introduced from Arabia, also 
I arrive at great perfection. 

Forests of great size and beauty cover the Indian Islands. 
The valuable teak tree,, with ornamental and gum-bearing trees, 
is amongst the most important. Bamboos and ratans, which 
serve for building, cordage, and other important purposes, over¬ 
spread the whole country where not rooted out by cultivation. 

The mineral wealth is brilliant and valuable; gold, diamonds, and 
tin are found in great quantities and of the first quality, but iron is 
I scarce. 

Fishing is actively pursued by the inhabitants, and its produce forms 
a considerable article of internal commerce. Tripang, sea-slug, and 
edible birds’-nests form important articles of the trade with China 
where they bear a high price. 

The commerce of the islands is carried on with considerable activity, 
by means of huge junks, with China, and with other foreign nations, 
with whom their peculiar productions are always in demand. The 
roads of the interior are mere footpaths, along which goods are carried 
on the backs of animals. 

The people of these islands are of two races, the black and brown. 
The black race, called oriental negroes, appear to be a stunted variety 
of the African negro. The brown race are also short, squat, and ro¬ 
bust, differing materially from any other in southern Asia. 

The religion of the East India Islands appears to be derived from 
southern Asia; that of Boodh is the most prevalent, but Mahomedan- 

hog ? Crocodile ? Birds ? What other birds ? What of the authority of 
the chiefs ? What European nations claim the sovereignty of these islands ? 
What of the soil, climate, and productions ? The forests ? Mineral wealth ? 
Fishery ? Commerce ? What two races of people ? What of the religion ? 







216 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


ism, which was introduced from Arabia, has many followers in the 
large islands. The inhabitants of the Philippines have been converted 
to Christianity. 

The houses of the East Indian Islanders 
[Fig. 183] are built of very simple materials 
and construction. Their very best houses are 
light structures of bamboo, ratan, palmetto 
leaf, and grass. 

Sumatra, the largest and most westerly of 
the great islands, is situated immediately be¬ 
neath the equator, which divides it nearly into 
two equal parts. Its length is about 1000 
miles, with an average breadth of 140 miles. 
r v Population, 2,500,000. The little island of 
House of a Chief, Tig. 183. f} an( j a) near Sumatra, is famous for its tin. 

The principal cities of Sumatra are Acheen, 
Palambang, and Bencooleen. 

Java, the great island next to Sumatra, extends from east to west 
about 600 miles, with an average breadth of 100 miles. From its east¬ 
ern extremity extends a succession of small islands, Bali, Lambok, 
Sumbawi, and Flcris. Population of Java, 6,000,000. 

Batavia, the capital of Java and of the Dutch possessions in the East In¬ 
dies, is situated on the northern coast. It is remarkable for its unhealthy cli¬ 
mate, but contains a population of 60,000, and carries on an extensive com¬ 
merce. 

Celebes is a large island of very singular form, with inhabitants less 
civilized than those of Java and Sumatra. Macassar is the principal town. 

Borneo, except New Holland, is the largest island in the world, being be¬ 
tween eight hundred and nine hundred miles from north to south, and seven 
hundred miles from east to west. Its mines of gold are the most copious in 
the east, and its diamonds are only second to those of Golconda. Borneo is 
the chief city. 

The Moluccas, or Spice Islands, derive great celebrity from the precious 
commodities they produce. Gilolo and Ceram are the principal islands, with 
the smaller ones of Ternate, Sidore, Amboyna, Neira, and several others. 
Nassau, a small town on the island of Neira, is the residence of the Dutch 
governor. 

The Philippines form an extensive group of two large islands, Luzon 
and Mindinao, and nine smaller ones. Manilla, on the island of Luzon, 
is a large city, built on a noble bay at the mouth of a river, with a po¬ 
pulation of 140,000. 

Map of Asia, and Map of the Pacific Ocean. —How is the Indian Ar¬ 
chipelago bounded ? Where is the Strait of Malacca ? The Strait of 
Sunda? Which island of the Indian Archipelago is the largest! 
Which the second in size ? Third? Fourth! Through what three 

How are the houses of the people built ? Can you describe the island of Su¬ 
matra ? Which are the chief cities of Sumatra r Can you describe the island 
of Java ? What of Batavia ? Can you describe the island of Celebes ? Bor¬ 
neo ? The Moluccas ? The Philippines ? 








AFRICA. 


217 


large islands does the equator pass ? Which of these islands is fur¬ 
thest north ? Furthest south 1 Furthest east ? Furthest west? Where 
is Borneo situated? Sumatra? Java? Celebes? Mindinao? The 
Philippine Islands ? Palawan ? On what island is Batavia ? Bor¬ 
neo ? Manilla ? 


AFRICA. 


Africa is an immense peninsula, extending about 4300 miles 
from north to south, and 4150 from east to west, but in all re- 
sjpects, except its vast extent, it is the least favoured portion of 
the globe, and the character of a desert belongs to a great por¬ 
tion of its widely extended surface. 

The famous range of mountains, called Atlas, extends across 
northern Africa, and lofty ranges, celebrated under the name of 
the Mountains of the Moon, cross the central part, and form an 
almost unbroken girdle round it. 

The great rivers, though not numerous ? are among the most 
celebrated in the world; and the Nile excited the curiosity and 
attention of the ancient, as much as the Niger has those of the 
modern world. 


In the northern part of Africa, the lion is occasionally seen. Hyenas 
are not uncommon, and several species of antelope range over the arid 
tracts of Barbary, while the northern giraffe, now viewed as a distinct 
species, has been found towards Nubia. 

In the hot regions of central Africa many beautiful and rare birds 
have been seen; serpents of monstrous size have been mentioned by 
travellers, and tremendous crocodiles swarm in the rivers. 

In southern Africa the number and variety 
of quadrupeds is truly surprising. The ele¬ 
phant, rhinoceros, antelope, giraffe, and os¬ 
trich traverse the sandy plains of the interior, 
browsing on the scanty supply of coarse grass, 
while the hippopotamus, [Fig. 184,] peculiar 
alone to Africa, is still numerous in the great 
rivers. Lions, hyenas, jackals, and some 
other ferocious quadrupeds are dispersed 
throughout the country. 

The political constitutions of Africa are 
rude, and, in general, despotic, and it is di¬ 
vided into an almost infinite variety of small states, without any well 
regulated government. 

In Africa, agriculture and manufactures are generally conducted in 
a rude and imperfect manner. The soil, however, is cultivated almost 
throughout to a greater or less extent, and some fine fabrics, particularly 



Hippopotamus, Fig. 184. 


What is Africa ? What two great ranges of mountains ? What of the great 
rivers? What animals in the northern part ? In the hot regions? In the 
southern part ? What of the political constitutions ? Agriculture and manu- 

10 







218 ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

those of cotton cloth, mats, and gold ornaments, are very widely dif¬ 
fused. 

Africa has scarcely any trade, except that which is carried on over 
land and across its oceans of deserts, by caravans, consisting chiefly of 
camels. By these immense journeys they procure a considerable 
quantity of gold and ivory, but the importance of these articles is less 
than that of the slave trade, of which Africa has always been the main 
theatre. 

This vast country is now almost universally in a state of barbarism, 
yet in ancient times the states of northern Africa rivalled Europe in 
civilization, and Egypt and Carthage, when in their glory, ranked 
among the most civilized and opulent states then existing. 

The inhabitants of Africa chiefly consist of Moors and Negroes. 
The Moors, including the descendants of the original Arab invaders, 
fill all northern Africa and the Great Desert. They are a rough, roving 
race, keeping numerous herds, chiefly of camels, with which they per¬ 
form immense journeys across the deserts. 

The Negroes, though inferior to the Moors in arts and attainments, 
-are generally courteous, gay, and hospitable. Like all barbarous na¬ 
tions, they are fond of war and cruel to their enemies, and are also led 
away with fantastic superstitions respecting charms and witchcraft. 

The population of Africa is very uncertain, but is estimated at 

110,000,000. 


Maps of the World and Africa. 

Divisions.— In which hemisphere is Africa 1 How is Africa bound¬ 
ed ? What isthmus connects Africa with Asia ? What countries 
-in Africa on the Mediterranean Seal What countries on the Red 
Seal On the coast of the Indian Ocean? What countries on the 
southern extremity of Africa ? W'hat countries on the coast of the 
Atlantic Ocean ? What countries in the interior ? Where is the Great 
Desert ? 

Mountains. —What is a mountain ? Where are the Mountains of 
the Moon? The Atlas Mountains? Lupata Mountains? Snow 
Mountains ? 

Islands. —What is an island ? Where is the island of Madagascar ? 
Bourbon ? Isle of France ? Island of Socotra ? Cape Yerd Islands ? 
Canary Islands ? Madeira Islands ? Azores ? 

Capes. —What is a cape ? Where is Cape Guardafui ? Cape Del¬ 
gado ? Cape of Good Hope ? Cape Negro ? Cape Palmas T CaDe 
Verd? Cape Blanco? F P 

Gulfs and Bays. —What is a gulf? Where is the Gulf of Guinea? 
Gulf of Sidra ? Table Bay ? Sofala Bay ? 

Straits.-— What is a strait ? What is a channel ? Where is the 
Strait of Gibraltar? Strait of Babelmandel ? Mozambique Channel ? 


factures ? Trade ? What is the present state of the people of Africa ? What 
was tlie former condition of some of the African nations ? Of what races of 
people do the present inhabitants of Africa consist ? What is the character of 
the Moors ? Of the Negroes ? 



EGYPT. 219 

Seas and Lakes.— -What is a sea ? What is a lake 1 Where is the 
Mediterranean Sea ? Red Sea ? Lake Tchad 1 Lake Maravi ? 

Rivers. —What is a river 1 Where is the river Nile 1 The Niger ? 
Senegal? Gambia? Quorra? Shary? Coanza? Orange River? 
Zambezi ? 


EGYPT. 

Egypt exists solely by the Nile, and the encircling desolation 
is only broken to the west of Upper Egypt by one large valley, 
called Fayorfm, and by several oases, at wide distances. 

After traversing the Valley of the Cataracts, the Nile passes 
through a valley, between mountains of some height, but in the 
lower part of its course it enters a flat and extensive plain, 
where it separates into numerous branches, and before it empties 
into the Mediterranean, forms the Delta of Lower Egypt. 

Of the plants of Egypt, the most interesting 
is the papyrus, [Fig. 185.] It was from the 
delicate white pith which fills the interior of 
this fine plant tnat the ancients prepared their 
paper. 

Egypt, in its fertile tracts, exhibits a bloom¬ 
ing ana fertile appearance, but the foliage is de¬ 
rived chiefly from fruit and garden trees. The 
palm, sycamore, tamarisk, and acacia are most 
prevalent. Fruits are abundant, and the apri¬ 
cot, citron, and lemon are reckoned the best. 

The castor-oil plant, [Fig. 186,] which only 
appears a tall herb in the south of Europe and 
most other countries, grows to a tree in Egypt 
and the southern shores of the Mediterranean. 

Among the most celebrated animals is the 
Egyptian ichneumon, which carries on a secret 
and destructive war against crocodiles, ser¬ 
pents, and lizards of every description, by seek¬ 
ing after and destroying their eggs. 

Camels are seen m great numbers in Egypt, 
but are mostly used for journeys over the de¬ 
sert. Arabia supplies Egypt with the fleetest 
and most beautiful horses, while the ass is 
stronger and more serviceable than in Europe. Castor-oilPlant,Fig. 186. 
The sheep are of the broad tailed kind, and ° 

the goats particularly elegant. The bordering 

By what river does Egypt exist ? What of the Nile and the country through 
which it flows ? What of the papyrus ? What of the general appearance of 
the country ? What trees ? What of the castor-oil plant ? The Egyptian 
ichneumon ? What other animals ? What birds ? What of the government ? 



Papyrus, Fig. 185. 










220 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


deserts contain the lion, hyena, antelope, and other wild animals, and 
in Upper Egypt the crocodile and hippopotamus are found in the 
Nile. 

Of the birds of Egypt, vultures and storks 
are held in high estimation, from their useful¬ 
ness in destroying offal and all dead animals. 
The sacred ibis [Fig. 187] of the ancient 
Egyptians is of a white colour, with long, dis¬ 
connected plumes on the wings, of a glossy 
blackness. 

Egypt, since the earliest ages, has been 
ruled despotically. The Turks have ruled it 
by a pacha, invested with all the prerogatives 
of the sultan, but the pacha is, in fact, inde¬ 
pendent. 

Egypt was distinguished at an early period 
for her agriculture, and the earliest authentic records represent her as 
resorted to for a supply of grain. The periodical inundation of the 
Nile, when swelled by the rains of Abyssinia and Upper Egypt, is the 
primary cause on which her fertility depends. The whole of the Delta, 
during the autumn, is laid entirely under water. 

Few countries unite to a greater degree than Egypt, the productions 
of various and opposite climates. W heat, barley, beans, maize, rice, 
flax, and indigo are all objects of culture, and lately cotton has become 
an article of great importance. 

Egypt is not, and never was, a great manufacturing country, but the 
manufacture of coarse linen and pottery has long existed; and that of 
cotton, recently introduced, is successfully carried on by European 
machinery. 

The maritime trade of Egypt is confined to the Mediterranean, but 
the pilgrims to Mecca and Medina, from the Mahomedan states of the 
west, also carry on a very extensive inland commerce. 

Egypt has long been occupied by races of people of various origin. 
The°population now consists chiefly of the Copts, the ancient native 
race, Arabs, Greeks, Jews, Syrians, Armenians, Turks, and Eu¬ 
ropean Christians. 

The religion of Egypt is the Mahomedan, but the Copts, who are ex¬ 
cluded from all honourable employments, profess Christianity. 

Science and literature, till lately, were at the lowest ebb, but recently 
the pacha has made great efforts to introduce European knowledge. 
Printing presses have been established, and a newspaper published. 

Alexandria was once the splendid capital of Egypt, and even now forms the 
link by which it is united to the states of Europe. Its appearance is mean, 
gloomy, and dirty, and presents no striking or ornamental edifice. Among 
the ruins of the ancient city, which cover a vast plain, Pompey’s pillar and 
Cleopatra’s needles are objects of the greatest curiosity. 

The fertility of the country ? What of the agricultural productions ? Manu¬ 
factures ? Trade ? What races of people now inhabit Egypt ? What of the 
religion ? Science and literature ? What of Alexandria ? Cairo ? What 



EGYPT. 


221 


are the chief ornaments of Cairo ? What of the Pyramids ? What is the 
size of the great, pyramid ? Of the second ? What of the statue of the 
Sphynx ? What of the ruins ? 




Grand Cairo, [Fig. 

188,] the capital of Egypt, 
throughout Africa and 
Arabia is considered the 
queen of cities. Eu¬ 
ropeans, however, find 
the streets narrow, wind¬ 
ing, and unpaved, with a 
disagreeable dust con¬ 
stantly rising from the 
crowds of men, dogs, 
camels, and asses, con¬ 
stantly passing through it. 

The chief ornament of 
Cairo consists in its gates, 
several of which are built Cairo, Fig. 188. 

in a style of simple ele¬ 
gance, and in its mosques, of which that of Sultan Hassan displays all the 
splendour of Saracenic architecture. The pacha resides in the citadel, where 
he has magnificent apartments. 

Scarcely has the traveller ascended the Nile, above Cairo, 
when he comes in sight of those far-famed structures, the Pyra¬ 
mids, to which the world presents nothing comparable, and 
which cannot be contemplated without the most awful emotion. 
They form an uninterrupted range for sixty miles, on a de¬ 
clivity sloping down to the river. 

The first, or great pyramid, is six hundred and ninety-three feet square, 
covering upwards of eleven acres, and rising to the height of five hundred 
and ninety-nine feet. Its construction is said to have employed 100,000 men 
for twenty years. The second pyramid in size is about 400 feet high. 

Near the second pyra¬ 
mid is the gigantic statue of 
the Sphynx, that singular 
object, in the delineation 
of which Egyptian art 
so much delighted. The 
length from the fore part to 
the tail is one hundred and 
twenty-five feet. The head 
and bust represents that of 
a human female, and the 
body that of a lion. 

Egypt also abounds with 
the ruins of cities contain¬ 
ing temples and other 
buildings, on a scale which Temple of Edfu, Fig. 189. 

astonishes the beholder by 

their neatness and beauty of design. The ruins of Thebes, the most imposing 
of which are the temples of Karnac and Luxor, and of the temple of Edfu, 














222 ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

[Fig. 189,] are those which have most excited the attention and astonishment 
of travellers. 


Map of Africa .’—How is Egypt bounded ? What great river runs 
through it I Can you describe the Nile 1 What city is the capital of 
Egypt ? Where is Cairo 1 Alexandria 1 Damieita 1 Suez 1 What 
other towns I 


NUBIA. 


Nubia, like Egypt, owes its exemption from the character of 
a complete desert entirely to the river Nile, which flows through 
it, for more than 1000 miles, in a direct distance. 

Nubia, therefore, forms a narrow belt of immense length, 
through the endless desert, stretching eastward to the Red Sea, 
and to the westward lost in the wastes of interior Africa. 


Nubia contains several curious animals; 
among them is the grotesque and rare animal, 
the fennic, [Fig. 190,] which lives in holes 
dug by itself in the ground, and wild dogs, 
foxes, and antelopes appear to be numerous. 

The northern giraffe, or cameleopard, has 
been seen in small herds in all the desert 
steppes, and is plentiful near Darfur.. The 
natives assert that the unicorn is found in the 
interior deserts. 

Several interesting birds appear to be pecu¬ 
liar to Nubia. Among them is the occipital 
vulture, a large and imposing bird, with upper 
plumage brown, head and under parts white, and one-half of the bill 
red. The Nubian bustard, partridges, and quails are also numerous. 

Nubia presents no appearance of a well-arranged government. 
Every town or village has its chief, who exercises to the utmost 
whatever power he may possess, and every individual is armed 
with a knife, which he is ever ready to employ in deeds of 
violence. 



Fennic, Fig. 190. 


The range of cultivation in Nubia is exceedingly limited, being con¬ 
fined almost entirely to a narrow strip along the banks of the Nile. The 
dhoura is almost the only grain cultivated, with sometimes a little barley 
and lentils. Tobacco is cultivated with success. 

Sheep are fed on the tracts of land unfit for grain; camels are nu¬ 
merous, but horses are only kept by the chiefs for military purposes. 
The Nubians have scarcely any manufactures, except coarse woollen 
and cotton cloth, with mats of date canes, made by the women. 


What prevents Nubia from being a complete desert? What does Nubia 
form ? What curious animals are found in Nubia ? What birds ? What of 
the government ? Cultivation of the country ? Productions ? What domestic 
animals ? Wliat of the manufactures ? Commerce ? What of the state of 



ABYSSINIA. 


223 


The commerce of Nubia is very limited, though the line of commu¬ 
nication for Arabia and Egypt, with central Africa, passes through it, 
where cotton goods, arms, and toys are carried to be exchanged for 
gold and ivory, but chiefly for slaves. 

The Nubians are in a very rude state, being scarcely acquainted with 
any of the arts of civilized life. The two leading races are the native 
Nubians, called Berbers, and the Arabs, who are extensively diffused 
in this region. There are also some negroes. 

Nubia, like Egypt, though to a less extent, abounds with ruins of 
cities containing splendid edifices, some of which are still in a tolera¬ 
ble state of preservation. 

Sexjtaah., the capital of one of the petty kingdoms into which Nubia is di¬ 
vided, contains about 10,000 inhabitants. The houses are small, built of clay, 
with flat roofs, and only one story high. The palace, built of burnt brick, is 
four stories high, but is in a ruinous state. 


Map of Africa .—How is Nubia bounded 1 What great river flows 
through it! What branches has the Nile! What is the capital! 
Where is Sennaar ? What towns on the Red Sea! On the eastern 
side of the Nile ? On the western side of the Nile ! 


ABYSSINIA. 

Abyssinia is, in a manner, insulated among rocks, deserts, 
and boundless plains,, and though it has imbibed some of the 
elements of civilization, has scarcely any intercourse with the 
civilized world. 

Abyssinia has been described as entirely a country of moun- 
| tains, and the level tracts, which cover a great extent, are mere 
l mountain valleys. 

Abyssinia is not less a country of rivers than of mountains, 
i and the eastern tract gives rise to the Blue River, so much cele- 
; brated in modern times as presenting the long sought-for head 
of the Nile, though the White River appears to be its main 
branch. 

The Blue River flows through the lake Dembea, which is fifty 
miles in length and thirty-five in breadth, containing numerous 
islands, some of which have been used as state prisons. 

Among the numerous useful and ornamental trees of Abyssinia is 
the kaura, [Fig. 191,] bearing a red bean which has been used from 
the earliest ages as a weight for gold all over Africa, the bean being 
everywhere of the same weight. From it the name of carat is de¬ 
rived, by which gold and diamonds are weighed all over the world. 

society ? What races of people ? What of the ruins ? What of Sennaar, 
the capital ? 

What is the situation of Abyssinia ? How is the country described ? What 
river and lake? What of the kaura? What animals? Birds? What of 









224 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The elephant., rhinoceros, and lion are not 
uncommon, while the giraffe is probably 
found in the less frequented parts of Abyssi¬ 
nia, and the civet has long Deen celebrated 
for the odoriferous substance it yields. 

Among the birds are the golden eagle, the 
Abyssinian hornbill, Abyssinian plant cutter, 
and among the water-birds, the jacama, a 
most graceful bird, of the size and habits of 
the water-hen. 

The constitution of the Abyssinian mo- 
Kaura, Fig. 191. narchy is a complete despotism, but in mo¬ 
dem times the country has been partially 
overrun by the Galla, and other barbarous neighbours, so that the king 
has now little more than a nominal authority. 

The valleys of Abyssinia are very fertile, and produce a good sup¬ 
ply of wheat, barley, and maize. The upland districts abound with 
horses and cattle, which, with butter and cheese, are objects of ex¬ 
change. Cotton is raised in considerable quantities. 

The mineral wealth of Abyssinia is small, a little fine gold only 
being found in the sands of the rivers. The most important fossil pro¬ 
duction is salt, drawn from the great plain on its western frontier. It 
is cut into pieces, which, like the cotton cloth, are used as money. 

The manufactures of Abyssinia are very rude, and consist chiefly of 
cotton stuffs, with which the people are universally clothed. Com¬ 
merce is very limited, and goods can only be imported at the port of 
Massuah, and conveyed through the country by caravans. 

The manners of the Abyssinians indicate the deepest barbarism. At 
their feasts, slices of warm flesh cut from the living ox, standing at the 
door, are brought in and swallowed as the greatest delicacy. Intoxi¬ 
cation is very frequent, and marriage scarcely exists at all. 

The Abyssinians pro¬ 
fess the same form of 
Christianity with the 
Copts of Egypt, but 
combine with it many 
Jewish customs and cere¬ 
monies. Of learning or 
literature they possess a 
very scanty supply. 

Axum:, [Fig. 192,] the 
ancient capital of Abyssi¬ 
nia, possesses great interest 
on account ot its monu¬ 
ments, which show it to 
Obelisk at Axum, Fig. 192. have been one of the most 

conspicuous cities in all this 
part of Africa. 

Goutdar, the capital, is the only place in Abyssinia entitled, from its mag- 

the government ? Soil and productions ? Minerals ? Manufactures ? Man¬ 
ners of the people ? Religion ? What of Axum ? Gondar t 








BARBARY. 


225 

mtu.de, name of a city, though the houses are mere mud cottages, with 
conical, thatched roofs. There are one hundred churches, but no very hand¬ 
some edifice, except the palace, built of stone, four stories high. The popu¬ 
lation is about 50,000. 8 1 1 

Map of Jfrica.~~Uow is Abyssinia hounded? What branches of 
the jn He rise m Abyssinia ? Can you describe the river Nile l What 
lake m the interior of Abyssinia ? What city is the capital ? Where 
is Gondar ? Axum ? Dixan ? What other towns ? 


BARBARY. 

Barbary is that long line of territory, from one hundred to 
two hundred miles wide, which extends westward from Egypt to 
the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. 

The level plain which comprises the greater part of Barbary 
resembles the desert which overspreads nearly the whole north¬ 
ern half of Africa, though the Atlas chain of mountains, which 
ranges through nearly its whole length, gives rise to many small 
rivers, which impart to this region great 
fertility. 

Barbary has mild winters, which re¬ 
semble an early spring, when the peaches, 
plums, nectarines, and almonds are in 
blossom. The country also produces a 

t reat variety of olives, beautiful oranges, 
gs, pomegranates, grapes, and pista¬ 
chio nuts, and the banks of the streams 
are fringed with oleanders, [Fig. 193.] 

The dromedary is well known as the most 
useful beast of burden throughout all north¬ 
ern Africa. The Barbary horses are superb, 
and different breeds of cattle and sheep ex¬ 
tend all over this region. 

The bubalis nearly resembles the European 
buffalo, and lives in small herds in the deserts 
and forests, from the Nile to Morocco. The 
lion, panther, lynx, and antelope are also 
found in this region. 

Besides several birds common to Europe, 

Barbary has many other species known to in¬ 
habit the desert, such as quails, partridges, 
and bustards. The most beautiful is the bar¬ 
bary shrike, [Fig. 194,] about the size of a 
thrush, black above and crimson beneath, Shrike, Fig. 194. 
the top of the head being yellow. 

What is Barbary? What does it resemble? What renders it fertile? 
What of the climate and productions ? What domestic animals ? What wild 

10 * 



Oleander, Fig. 193. 










226 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Scarcely any trace of order, liberty, or good government exists in 
any of the states comprising this extensive region. The only limita¬ 
tion to a blind and barbarian despotism is the tumultuary sway of a 
brutal soldiery. 

The agriculture of Barbary is very imperfect, though wheat and 
barley are generally raised, and rice grows in favourable situations. 
All the fruits of southern Europe come to perfection, and the excellence 
of the olive is particularly noted. 

The most noted manufacture is that of Morocco leather, from the 
skins of the goats which climb the declivities of the Atlas. Silk 
stuffs, robes, shawls, and conical woollen caps, universally worn in 
the East, are also objects of manufacturing industry. 

The Barbary states were formerly noted for their piracies, but they 
now possess few ships, and their maritime commerce is very limited, 
consisting chiefly of the export of the raw produce of the soil. 

The most active commerce of Barbary is that carried on by means 
of caravans with the interior of Africa. Into these countries the cara¬ 
vans carry salt, European goods, hardware, and toys, and receive in 
return gold dust, ivory, gum Senegal, and slaves. 

The inhabitants of Barbary are separated into three distinct races; 
the Moors, who inhabit the cities ana valleys, the Arabs, who live in 
moveable encampments on the plains, and the Berbers, who dwell in 
the inaccessible retreats of the Atlas Mountains. 

The religion of all the Barbary states is that of zealous Mahome- 
danism. With respect to learning and science, they may be said to be 
nearly extinct. 



Amusements of the Moors, Fig. 195. 


Horsemanship, above every thing else, forms the pride and amuse- 

animals? What birds? What of the government? Agriculture? Com¬ 
merce? For what were the Barbary states formerly noted ? How is the 
most active commerce carried on ? What races of people ? What of the re- 






BARBARY. 227 

ment of the Moors, [Fig. 195,] and their feats in that art are often very 
wonderful. 

In the dress of the Moors and Arabs, the most conspicuous is the 
haik, a large piece of woollen cloth about six yards square, folded 
loosely round the body, and fastened with a girdle round the waist. 

In regard to food, one dish prevails at all tables, that of Cuscosoo, a 
sort of almost fluid paste, made of crumbs of bread, with small pieces 
of meat and vegetables. The dish is set in the middle of the company, 
who thrust in their fingers, and lift it to their mouths, stirring it with 
their hands to select the best morsels. 

MOROCCO. 

Morocco, the most westerly of the Barbary states, borders 
both on the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The loftiest chain of 
the Atlas Mountains runs parallel to both these coasts, changing 
its direction along with them, and leaving one of the most fer¬ 
tile plains in any part of the world. Population of Morocco, 
6 , 000 , 000 . 

Morocco, the capital, is situated on a very fruitful plain, above which rises 
abruptly one of the loftiest ranges of the Atlas. The mosques are numerous, 
and some of them present striking specimens of Arabian architecture. 

The palace forms an oblong of 1500 by 600 yards, divided by enclosures, 
where, surrounded by gardens, are the pavilions of the sovereign, his princi¬ 
pal officers, and ladies. Beautiful gardens surround the city, and spacious 
aqueducts convey water from the Atlas, twenty miles distant. Population, 
80,000. 

Fez, once a very celebrated city, now presents a mixture of splendour and 
ruin. The situation is singular, but pleasant, in a hollow surrounded by hills, 
covered with groves and orchards, with a river winding through it. Popula¬ 
tion, 100,000. 

Mequinez, to the west of Fez, is now the residence of the emperor. The 
palace consists of a most extensive enclosure, though the buildings are only 
one story high. The people are said to be more polished, and tlie females 
handsomer, than in the other cities of Morocco. 

The sea-ports of Morocco, though they have lost their greatness formerly 
derived from commerce and piracy, are still considerable. Mogadore, the 
most southerly, is nearest the capital, and now the chief emporium of inter¬ 
course with Europe. Population, 10,000. Sallee, once the terror of the seas, 
though much decayed, still has a population of 18,000. 


ALGIERS. 

The territory of Algiers is greatly distinguished for its fer¬ 
tility, and, with few exceptions, is covered with rich pastures 
or fields, fitted for the best kinds of European grain, blooming 

ligion, learning, and science ? What is the favourite amusement of the Moors 
What of their dress ? Food ? 

What is Morocco ? What noted chain of mountains ? What population? 
What of the city of Morocco ? What of the emperor’s palace ? What 
Fez ? Mequinez ? What sea-ports ? 







228 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


with the orange and myrtle, and producing figs, olives, and 
grapes of peculiar excellence. Population, 2,000,000. 

Algiers, the capital, has its streets built on an eminence facing the sea, and, 
rising above each other, make a magnificent appearance. On entering the 
city, however, all its beauty vanishes, and it is found a labyrinth of steep, nar¬ 
row, and dirty lanes. In 1830 Algiers was captured by the French, who still 
retain possession of it. Population, 25,000. 

Constantina, in the eastern part of Algiers, ranks as the second city. It is 
boldly situated on a rock, precipitous on one side, where it overhangs the 
broad stream of the river Rummel. 


TUNIS. 

Tunis is not so extensive as Algiers, but it is not so closely 
hemmed in by the Atlas, nor are they so steep and lofty. Be¬ 
tween the Atlas and the sea intervenes a spacious plain, watered 
by the noble river Bagrada. Population, 2,000,000. 

Tunis, the capital, is the largest city in Barbary, though it is not well built, 
the streets being narrow and dirty, yet the principal mosque and the new pa¬ 
lace are very handsome edifices. Population, 130,000. 

The ancient Carthage is a little to the east of Tunis, but no destruction can 
be more entire than that which overwhelmed that celebrated city. 

TRIPOLI. 

Tripoli presents an aspect by no means so grateful and 
smiling as the more western regions of Africa. The Atlas range 
here terminates, and the great plain of sand presses close on the 
cultivated country. Tripoli exercises a species of dominion 
over Bornou, Houssa, and Fezzan, in the interior, and over 
Barca on the eastern coast. Population, 600,000. 

Tripoli, the capital, has considerable trade with the interior, and though it 
cannot be called a fine city, its palace and mosques have some beauty, and 
there is a triumphal arch, and several other interesting remains of antiquity. 
Population, 25,000. 

Barca, the ancient Cyrene, is celebrated for the ruins of the ancient cities 
which once existed there. The ruins of Cyrene itself possess great interest. 
They descend abruptly to the sea, by successive stages, along each of which is 
a smooth, rocky path, marked by the wheels of ancient chariots. 

The Necropolis, or City of Tombs, at Cyrene, consists of eight or nine 
ranges of sepulchral grottoes, arranged in terraces along a mountain. 


Map of Africa .—How is Morocco bounded'? What great chain of 
mountains runs through it 1 Can you describe the Atlas Mountains ? 
What city is the capital of Morocco 1 Where is the city of Morocco 1 

For what is the territory of Algiers distinguished? What population? 
What of the city of Algiers ? Constantina ? 

What of Tunis? What population ? What of the city of Tunis ? What 
ancient city near it ? 

What of Tripoli? What population? What of the city of Tripoli? 
What of Barca ? The ruins of Cyrene ? The Necropolis ? 


WESTERN AFRICA. 


229 


Fez? Mequinez? Sallee? Tangier? Mogadore? What other 
towns ? 

How is Algiers bounded ? What city is the capital ? Where is 
the city of Algiers ? Constantina? Bona? Oran? Tlemsen? What 
other towns ? 

How is Tunis bounded ? What city is the capital ? Where is the 
city of Tunis ? Where is Cape Bon ? The Gulf of Cabes ? 

How is Tripoli bounded? Where is the Gulf of Sydra? What 
city is the capital ? Where is the city of Tripoli ? Barca ? Derna ? 
What other towns ? 


WESTERN AFRICA. 

Western Africa comprises that wide extent of coast, ex¬ 
cluding the Great Desert, which extends along the Atlantic, 
from the Senegal to the river Benguela. 

The coast presents, in general, a flat surface, all the great 
ranges of mountains being in the interior. The rivers are nu¬ 
merous, and some of them, as the Senegal, Gambia, Niger, 
Congo, and Zaire, are streams of the first order. 

The great mass of this territory is covered by vast and almost im¬ 
penetrable forests, and the climate is such as to give great variety to 
vegetation. 

The peach of the Negroes [Fig. 196] is a large, fleshy, and solid 
fruit, hard and eatable throughout, with seeds, in flavour like straw¬ 
berries. The tree grows plentifully at Sierra Leone. Pine-apples 
[Fig. 197] both grow wild and are cultivated by the natives. 



African Peach, Fig. 196. Pine-apple, Fig. 197. 


The boabab tree has its trunk thirty feet in diameter, and may be 
considered one of the most valuable productions of Western Africa. 
The leaves and fruit are used in various ways, and are considered both 
nutritious and medicinal. 

Numerous droves of elephants frequent the western coast of Africa, 
and monkeys and antelopes are met with in several varieties. 

What does Western Africa comprise ? What is the general character of 
the country ? What of the forests ? The peach of the negroes ? The boabab 









230 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The birds of Western Africa are numerous, 
and some of them very beautiful. Several 
varieties of the eagle, the plantain-eater, beef¬ 
eater, and long-shafted goat-sucker, are most 
worthy of notice. The Guinea fowl is pecu¬ 
liar to this region. 

The termites, or white ants, constitute one 
of the most curious features in natural history. 
They build conical houses, [Fig. 198,] ten 
or twelve feet high, divided into apartments, 
magazines for provisions, arched chambers, 
White Ants’Nests, and galleries of communication. 

Fig. 198. The whole of this coast, from its situation 

and climate, is capable of yielding, in abun¬ 
dance, all the richest treasures of the vegetable kingdom. The pro¬ 
ducts are maize, millet, rice, yams, potatoes, sugar, coffee, and cotton, 
though agriculture is in the rudest state. 

The manufactures consist of cotton stuffs, mats, arms, and gold or¬ 
naments. The sea and rivers abound with choice fish, and the fishery 
is carried on with some activity for immediate consumption. 

Commerce is very limited, but the slave trade has long been actively 
pursued on this coast, from which Europe and America nave been sup¬ 
plied with slaves. Gold, ivory, cam wood, and palm oil are also ex¬ 
changed for cotton goods, brass, iron, guns, gunpowder, brandy and 
rum. 

The inhabitants of Western Africa belong almost entirely to 
the Negro race, who are strangers to literature, the ornamental 
arts, and also to any rational system of religion, Fetechism 
being universal. 

Polygamy has no limits, and on the death of any great man, 
human victims, in great numbers, are sacrificed. The universal 
amusements of the Negroes are music and dancing, and as soon 
as the sun declines, and its intense heat abates, there is dancing 
from one end of Africa to the other. 

There is not, in all native Africa, a house built of stone; 
wood, earth, leaves, and grass being the only materials. The 
furniture consists only of a few seats, cups, and pots, coverlets 
of rushes, and a mat to sleep on. 

The lower classes cover the lower parts of their bodies only with 
a loose wrapper of coarse cloth, but the rich must appear clothed in 
robes of silk, velvet, or India chintz; but the great rage is for brace¬ 
lets and rings, which last are accumulated on the ears, arms, and legs. 

Senegambia, Upper Guinea, and Lower Guinea are great but vague 
divisions of Western Africa, to which may be added the small Eu¬ 
ropean and American settlements on the coast. 

tree? What animals? Birds? What of the white ants ? What of the cli¬ 
mate and productions ? Manufactures ? Commerce ? Literature, arts, and 
religion of the Negroes? Their social condition? Houses? Clothing? 
What divisions of die country ? What people inhabit Senegambia ? What 



WESTERN AFRICA. 


231 


Senegambia is divided into a great variety of little kingdoms, formed 
by the Negro races which inhabit this region, who are chiefly the Fou- 
lahs, Mandingoes, and Jaloifs. The French have a settlement at St. 
Louis, at the mouth of the Senegal, and the English have James’ Fort 
and Pisania, on the Gambia. The principal article of trade is gum 
Senegal, procured from the interior. 

Along the heads of the Rio Grande lies the important kingdom of 
Foota Jallo, said to extend about three hundred and fifty miles in 
length, and two hundred in breadth. It appears to be the most im¬ 
proved of all the states in this part of Africa. The inhabitants are 
Foulahs, and of the Mahomedan religion. Timbo, the capital, has 
5000 inhabitants. 

Sierra Leone is an English colony, first formed by a number of 
free Negroes, dismissed from the British army and navy at the end of 
the American war. The situation is unhealthy, and the colony has 
made no impressions on any of the surrounding tribes; population, 
21,000. Freetown, the capital, has 5000 inhabitants. 

The America colony of Liberia was founded in 1821. The territory 
occupies about 225 miles along the coast, and extending twenty or thirty 
miles inland. Monrovia, the capital, has 200 inhabitants. The colonists 
consist of free blacks, emancipated slaves, and recaptured Africans. 
Population, 5000. 

Upper Guinea is generally divided into the Grain, Ivory, and Gold 
coast, from the Guinea pepper, elephant’s teeth, and gold exported from 
it. Cape Coast Castle is the capital of the British settlements. The 
capital of the Dutch settlements is El Mina, and they have numerous 
forts along the coast. The Danes have forts at Accra and Ningo. 

In the interior of Upper Guinea the Ashantees are the ruling power, 
and control all this region not occupied by Europeans. They are a very 
fierce and warlike race. 

Lower Guinea includes Congo, Loanga, Angola, and Benguela. 
The slave trade, for which alone this part of the coast is now visited, 
is carried on chiefly near the mouth of the river Zaire. 

The Portuguese have several settlements, and claim a kind of juris¬ 
diction over the native tribes, far into the interior. Their chief settle¬ 
ment is at St. Paul de Loando. 

Map of Africa. —How is Senegambia bounded ! What tw'o great 
rivers ! Wnere is Pisania ! Bambook ! Geba ! Timbo I What 
other towns ! 

How is Upper Guinea bounded! What capes along the coast! 
Where is Sierra Leone ! What river flows through Liberia ! W T hat 
town is the capital of Liberia! W'here is Monrovia! Bassa Cove! 
Where is Coomassie ! Abomey! Jenna! Wliat other towns on the 
coast! 

European settlements! 1 What of the kingdom of Foota Jallo? What of 
Sierra Leone ? Liberia ? WTiat general divisions of Upper Guinea ? What 
European settlements on the coast ? What people inhabit the interior ? What 
divisions of Lower Guinea ? What of the slave trade ? What European set¬ 
tlements ? 







232 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


How is Lower Guinea bounded ? What three islands near the 
coast? What capes on the coast of Lower Guinea? What rivers 
flow through it? Where is Loango? St. Paul de Loando? St. 
Philip de Benguela ? What other towns near the coast ? 


SOUTHERN AFRICA. 

Southern Africa is a name given to the territory disco¬ 
vered, and partly colonized by Europeans, from the settlement 
formed at the Cape of Good Hope. 

The surface of Southern Africa is striking and peculiar, rising 
by three successive ranges of mountains, running parallel with 
the coast; and behind these, at the distance of eighty miles, the 
Snowy Mountains, whose pinnacles rise to the height of ten 
thousand feet. 

The plain nearest the sea is fertile, well watered, and has an 
agreeable climate, but there are extensive sandy deserts in the 
interior. The Great Fish, Oliphants, and Orange Rivers are 
those most worthy of attention. 

Southern Africa abounds with a great variety of flowering plants, 
and some of the most curious exotics have been brought from this part 
of Africa. The acacia capensis, a variety of the gum Arabic tree, 
grows in great abundance. 

In no region of the globe are there so great a number of guadrupeds, 
and those too of the largest size. The elephant, rhinoceros, lion, jackal, 
and hunting hyena, [rig. 199,] with baboons, antelopes, and gazelles, 


Hunting Hyena, Fig. 199. Spring Bok, Fig. 200. 

are the well known animals of Southern Africa. The kind of antelope 
called by the natives the spring bok, [Fig. 200,] is found in great 
numbers. 

The ostrich is found in the sandy plains of the interior, and the snake- 
eater carries on a perpetual war against all sorts of reptiles. Eagles, 
falcons, vultures, and owls are common, the crested kingfisher [Fig. 
201] is remarkable for the splendour of its colours, ana the honey- 

What is Southern Africa ? What of its surface ? What of its general cha¬ 
racter? Rivers? What vegetable productions? What of the animals? 






SOUTHERN AFRICA. 


233 


guide [Fig. 202] for flying before the bee-hunter, and pointing out the 
object of his search. 




Crested Kingfisher, Fig. 201. 

The ox is the chief domestic animal, being used not only for draft, 
but also for the saddle, and the natives train him for war. Zebras are 
common in the interior, but have never been tamed. Horses are scarce. 

Southern Africa was first colonized by the Dutch, who founded Cape 
Town in 1650, but was captured by the British in 1806, who still re¬ 
tain possession of it. 

The great divisions of Southern Africa are the Cape Colony, the 
country of the Caffres’, and the country of the Boshuanos’. 

CAPE COLONY. 

The Cape Colony occupies a territory about six hundred miles in 
length by two hundred in average breadth, containing 120,000 square 
miles, and 150,000 inhabitants. 

The Hottentots, the original inhabitants of the cape, and now com¬ 
pletely fixed to the soil 
as bondsmen, though not 
liable to sale, have been 
presented as an example 
of man in his rudest and 
most degraded state. 

Cape Town, [Fig. 203,] 
the capital of Southern Af¬ 
rica, situated on Table 
Bay, being the only good 
place of refreshment for 
vessels between Europe 
and America on one side, 
and the East Indies on the 
other, must always be a 
place of great commercial importance. Population, 20,000. 

Birds? What domestic animals? What of the history of the country? 
What great divisions ? 

Wliat of the Cape Colony ? The Hottentots ? Cape Town ? What of the 



Cape of Good Hope, Fig. 203. 













234 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


CAFFRES. 

Caffreria, or the territory of the Caffres, extends from the eastern 
boundary of the Cape Colony along the coast of the Indian Ocean. 
The Caffres are a tall, robust race of people, with frank, generous, 
and fearless manners, and complexions of a deep, stony brown. They 
are divided into several distinct tribes, all of which are, perhaps, the 
most completely pastoral of any people in the world. 

BOSHUANOS. 

The country of the Boshuanos, or Bushmen, occupies a considerable 
extent of South Africa to the northwest of the Colony of the Cape. 

The Boshuanos are not so tall and handsome as the Caffres, but they 
have made greater advances in civilization. They dwell in towns of 
considerable magnitude, and cultivate the earth, raising millet, beans, 
gourds, and watermelons. 

Kurechanee, the largest town, contains 16,000, Melita, 12,000, and Letakoo 
6000 inhabitants. 

Map of Africa .—How is Southern Africa bounded I What divisions 
of Southern Africa] How is Cape Colony bounded I Where are the 
Snow Mountains ] Where is the Cape of Good Hope I Table Bay I 
Aguillas Bay] Algoa Bay] St. Helena Bay] Where is Cape 
Town ] Melita ] Kurechanee ] 

How is the country of the Hottentots and Caffres bounded I Can 
you describe the Orange River I Where is Letakoo ] Mobati ] What 
other places ] 


EASTERN AFRICA. 

Eastern Africa comprises an immense extent of coast, 
reaching from the Caffre country a length of more than three 
thousand miles, and may be considered as extending five hun¬ 
dred or six hundred miles into the interior. 

The coast consists almost entirely of spacious plains, covered 
with magnificent forests, but two hundred or three hundred 
miles in the interior, considerable ranges of mountains arise. 

Some of the rivers are of great magnitude, though only the 
lower part of their courses have been explored. The Zambezi 
is reported to flow nearly across this part of Africa. Lake Ma- 
ravi is represented as resembling an inland sea. 

The Portuguese, as soon as they had discovered a passage to the 
Indian Seas, occupied all the maritime states, and studiously excluded 
every other people. 

Caffre Territory ? Character of the Caffres ? What of the country of the 
Boshuanos ? Character of the people ? What towns ? 

What does Eastern Africa comprise ? Of what does the coast consist? 
The interior ? What of the rivers ? By what European nation has this 




CENTRAL AFRICA. 


235 


This territory is occupied by brown or black races, who bear no re¬ 
semblance to the Negroes, except in colour. 

Beginning from the south, we find Sofala, formerly the emporium 
of the gold and ivory brought down the river Zambezi. The town of 
Sofola is now only a village of poor huts, the trade having been trans¬ 
ferred to Quilimane. Inhambane, to the south, has an excellent 
harbour. 

Mozambique is the principal establishment of the Portuguese in 
Eastern Africa. The town is on an island in the Zambezi, two hundred 
miles from its mouth, and carries on a considerable trade in gold, ivory, 
and slaves. 

To the north of Mozambique is the coast of Zanguebar, including 
Quiloa, Momboza, Melinda, and Magadoxo. This coast, once under 
the control of the Portuguese, is now subject to the Imam of Muscat, in 
Arabia. Parallel with the coast are the fertile islands of Pemba, Zan¬ 
zibar, and Monfia. The town of Zanzibar contains 10,000 inhabitants. 

The coast of Ajan extends from the Zanguebar to Cape Guardafui, 
where Africa ceases to border on the Indian Ocean. Berbera extends 
from Cape Guardafui nearly to the Straits of Babelmandel, and is the 
native country of incense, myrrh, and odoriferous gums. 

Adel and Hurrur form the most westerly part of this region, adjoin¬ 
ing to the Strait of Babelmandel, whose inhabitants long carried on a 
bloody war with Abyssinia. Zeyla, the capital, is a place of conside¬ 
rable trade. 

Map of Africa .—Where is Cape Corrientas I Cape Delgado I Cape 
Guardafui ? Sofala Bay 1 Formosa Bay ? Island of Zanzibar ? Pemba ? 
Where are the Lupata Mountains ? Lake Maravi ? The river Zam¬ 
bezi ? Where is the country of Changamera 1 Mozambique ? Zan¬ 
guebar? Ajan? Adel? Where is the town of Sofala? Sena? 
Quilimane? Mozambique? Quiloa? Magadoxa? Berbera? Hurrur? 


CENTRAL AFRICA. 

Central Africa, also called Soudan, consists of a spacious 
plain, watered by noble rivers, with a lofty chain of mountains 
on the south, ana forms one of the finest countries on the globe. 

The river Niger, long involved in deep mystery, has at length, 
to a great extent, been explored ? and found to enter the Gulf of 
Guinea after a course of 3000 miles, forming the most extensive 
delta in the world. The natives call the upper part of its course 
the Joliba, and lower down it receives the name of Quorra. The 
lake Tchad is 200 miles long, by 150 broad, with several rivers 
flowing into it. 

The government, in all the countries of Central Africa, is 

coast been occupied ? What of the native inhabitants ? What of Sofala ? 
Mozambique ? Zanguebar ? Ajan ? Berbera ? Adel and Hurrur ? 

Of what does Central Africa consist? What of the river Niger? Lake 




236 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


completely despotic, and the homage paid their rulers is of the 
most debasing description, yet their manners, attire, and daily 
habits differ little from the meanest of their subjects. 

Agriculture is practised in a very imperfect manner by the hoe only, 
the plough having never passed the desert, yet this slight tillage pro¬ 
duces abundant crops. Wheat, millet, rice, cotton, and indigo are 
produced in great abundance and excellence. The manufactures con¬ 
sist chiefly of cotton cloth, mats, gold, rings, and ornaments. 

The domestic animals are chiefly sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry, 
while the forests and swamps, on the great rivers, abound with ele¬ 
phants, lions, and hyenas, which often commit formidable ravages. 

Commerce is carried on with considerable activity, by means of ca¬ 
ravans, kafilas or coflies, which cross the desert by means of camels, 
but in Houssa and Eyeo the human head, especially that of females, 
not excepting the wives of the monarch, is the vehicle chiefly em¬ 
ployed. 

The commodities conveyed across the desert to the markets of Cen¬ 
tral Africa, are coarse woollen cloths, red silk, thread, paper, beads, 
rings, scissors, knives, and arms, for which gold, ivory, and slaves are 
given in return. 

The state of society, though barbarous, has made considerable ad¬ 
vances towards civilization, but w r ars are carried on with the greatest 
ferocity, and robbery is considered the great national and state concern 
of almost every community, great and small. 

In regard to religion, the natives of this region are almost equally 
divided between the Pagan and Mahomedan; the one native, the other 
introduced by intercourse with Northern Africa. Learning appears in 
a very depressed state, the reading even of the Koran being confined to 
a very few of the great Jighes, or doctors. 

The ruling people, over nearly the whole of Central Africa, are the 
Arabs, who emigrated to this region about the twelfth century, and es¬ 
tablished powerful states near the Niger. Of these, the Fellatah Em¬ 
pire, founded about two hundred years ago, is now the most powerful 
and extensive. 

Bornou, the capital, of the kingdom of the same name, and one of the most 
powerful in Central Africa, contains about 10,000 inhabitants, and Kouka is 
still smaller, but Angornou contains at least 30,000 people, and during the 
markets held there, from 80,000 to 100,000 are assembled. 

Loggun, the capital of a kingdom of the same name, immediately south of 
Lake Tchad, is a handsome place on the Shary, forty miles above its mouth. 
The ladies are represented as the liveliest and most agreeable of the Negro 
race, Ranem, on the north of Lake Tchad, bordering on the desert, is a rude 
district, with Lari for its capital, which contains 2000 inhabitants. 

Mandara, on the south of Bornou, consists of a fine valley, containing eight 
large towns, the principle of which is Mora. To the south of this territory 
the Mountains of the Moon appear to attain their greatest height. 

Tchad ? What of the government ? Agriculture ? What domestic animals ? 
How is commerce carried on ? What articles of commerce ? What of the 
state of society ? Religion ? Who are the ruling people of Central Africa ? 
What of Bornou ? Loggun? Mandara? Socatoo? Goober and Zamfra ? 


CENTRAL AFRICA. 


237 


Socatoo, situated nearly at the western extremity of Houssa, is, at present, 
the ruling country over that region. It is a fertile region, and its capital, of 
the same name, is the largest city in Central Africa. The houses are built 
in the Moorish style, and one of its mosques is 800 feet in length. 

The countries of Goober and Zamfra are inhabited by a rude and warlike 
race, who have sometimes ruled over Houssa. Zirmie, {he capital of Zamfra, 
is a sort of outlawed city, and its inhabitants are considered the greatest rogues 
in all Houssa. 

Kano, though greatly declined, is still the centre of commerce and civiliza¬ 
tion in Central Africa. The walls enclose a circuit of fifteen miles, and it 
has a great market kept open from sunrise to sunset every day, with 30,000 or 
40,000 inhabitants. 

Kashna, the capital of a considerable kingdom, has walls of immense ex¬ 
tent, and is the seat of a considerable trade with Timbuctoo, and with cara¬ 
vans across the desert, by the way of Ghadamis and Tuat. 

To the south of Socatoo and Kano is the country of Zegzeg, one of the 
finest of all Africa. Zaria, the capital, has a population of 50,000. Cuttup, 
a collection of five hundred villages, covering a beautiful plain, forms a mar¬ 
ket for a wide extent of country. 

Farther south are the Yamyams, a savage race of cannibals, who some time 
ago devoured a whole caravan. Dunrora is situated in a fertile, though rocky 
country. Jacobo is a large city on the Shary, and Adamowa is another large 
city, farther east. 

Youri, the capital of a fertile country of the same name, is a large city, 
whose walls are twenty or thirty miles in circuit, where the celebrated travel¬ 
ler, Park, was killed. Below Youri the Niger is obstructed by cataracts. 

Boussa is a considerable town and the capital of a well cultivated kingdom. 
Wawa, in a fertile plain, contains 18,000 inhabitants. Borgoo forms a cluster 
of states west of Boussa. Kiami, Niki, and Pandi are the principal towns. 

The banks of the Niger, below Boussa, are occupied by two great and 
flourishing kingdoms, Eyeo, also called Yariba, on the west, and Nyft'ee on the 
east. 

Eyeo, the capital of Yariba, includes a circuit of fifteen miles. Bokoo, 
Alorie, Jenna, and Chaki, all in the kingdom of Yariba, are also large and 
populous cities. 

Rabba, the capital of Nyffee, next to Socatoo, is reckoned the largest city 
in this part of Africa. The king of Zagoshi, an island in the Niger, adjoining 
Rabba, has a fleet of six hundred canoes. 

The states which succeed Nyft'ee, on the lower part of the Niger, appear to 
be little more than single towns, each governed by its chief. Ivacunda, Cuttum- 
curafee, Bocqua, Kirree, and Eboe are the places most worthy of notice. 

Timbuctoo, on the Upper Niger, appears to be not near so large or splendid 
as rumour represented it. The place contains some liaudsome mosques, and 
a spacious palace, but a large portion of the houses are mere conical hovels, 
like beehives. It being the place where the caravans from Morocco, Algiers, 
and Tunis first touch, on the fertile regions of Central Africa, must always 
give it a great commercial importance. 

Jinnie also, on the Niger, is second only to Timbuctoo in regard to com¬ 
merce. It collects from Bambara commodities for the market of Timbuctoo, 
which are sent down the Niger in light vessels. 

The kingdom of Bambara consists of a beautiful and extensive plain, 
through wh ich the Niger rolls for the distance of three hundred miles. Sego, 

Kano ? Kashna ? Zegzeg ? Cuttup ? The Yamyams ? Dunrora ? Jacoba ? 
Adamowa ? Youri ? Boussa ? What powerful kingdoms below Boussa ? 
What cities in the kingdom of Yariba ? What of Rabba ? Zagoshi ? What 








238 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

the capital, with commodious streets, and numerous mosques, has a population 
of 30,000. 

Sansanding, Bammakoo, Mai*ahoo, Samee, and Silla, are all considerable 
towns higher up the Niger, and numerous small states occupy the countries 
south and west of the region where that river takes its rise. 

Map of Africa .—How is Central Africa, or Soudan bounded ? What 
great river runs through Central Africa ? Can you describe the river 
Niger ? The Shary ? Where is Lake Tchad ? Lake Dibbie ? Where 
is Socatoo ? Bornou ? Kashna ? Bambara I W here is Timbuctoo ? 
Sansanding? Sego? Medina I Douassa? Kong? Boussa? Wawa? 
Katunga? Bassa? Alorie ? Cuttumcurrafee ? Jacoba ? Zaria ? 
YouriT Zirmie? Kano? Goobeen? Adamowa? Mora? Angola? 
Angornou ? 



THE SAHARA, OR GREAT DESERT. 

The Sahara, or Great Desert, forms an immense range of 
territory, which would cover the whole northern half of Alrica, 
but for the partial exemption produced by the mountain range 
of the Atlas, and the course of the Nile. It extends three 
thousand miles in length, and one thousand in breadth. 

The surface of the Sanara does not consist of one uniform 
and entire plain of sand, but in most level tracts the sand has 
been blown up into hillocks, steep on one side, and in some 
places dark ranges of naked rocks appear, while in others oases, 
or fertile spots, are presented, like islands in the midst of an 
ocean of sand. Salt lakes, also, occur here and there. 


Sand Wind, Fig. 204. 

states on the Niger below NyfFee ? What of Timbuctoo ? Jinnie ? Bam¬ 
bara ? What other cities ? 

What is the general description of the Great Desert ? What appearance 










AFRICAN ISLANDS. 


239 


In passing the desert, the sand wind [Fig. 204] presents the greatest 
danger, when the sand, blown up by tempests, fills and darkens the air, 
and threatens to suffocate the traveller. The failure of provisions, and 
above all of water, has also been a frequent cause of those disasters 
indicated by the bones of men and animals which whiten the desert. 

Inhabitants of various races, in as great numbers as the soil can sup¬ 
port, are found occupying both the borders and interior oases of this 
vast and desolate region. 

The large oases of Fezzan and Darfoor appear to have been peopled 
from Egypt and Tripoli, while the wandering tribes from Morocco have 
coverea all the habitable tracts of the western desert, nearly as far 
I south as the Niger. 

Negro tribes are found chiefly in Darfoor and Kordofan, while the in¬ 
terior tracts, to the south and west of Fezzan, are peopled by the Tib- 
boos and Tauricks, supposed to be the remnant of an aboriginal race 
who occupied all northern Africa before it was overrun by emigrants 
from Asia. 

Map of Africa .—How is the Great Desert bounded ? Where is Gua- 
latal Tuat? Fezzan? Kawar ? Country of the Tauricks ? Tib- 
boos ? Begharmi? Darfoor? Donga? Where is Tegazzah? Tau- 
deny ? Tisheet? Aroan? Agably? Mourzuk? Zuela? Jeded? 
Gazar? Siwah? Domboo? Bilma? Aghadem? Begharmi? Duida? 
Cobbe? 5 


AFRICAN ISLANDS. 

Africa is begirt with numerous islands, which include a great 
extent of fertile territory, and present grand, picturesque, and 
often beautiful features. 

The Azores, or Western Islands, belonging to Portugal, though 
: situated at nearly an equal distance from Europe, Africa, and America, 
| are usually classed with African Islands. They are nine in number, 
very fertile in grain, fruits, and wine, and remarkable for having a vol¬ 
cano in the sea near them. Population, 250,000. 

Madeira, also belonging to Portugal, is a beautiful island, covered 
all over with vegetation, and chiefly remarkable for the great quantity 
of excellent wine produced from its vineyards. 

The Canaries, or Fortunate Islands, belong to Spain, and are among 
the most celebrated and beautiful groups of small islands in the world. 
There are seven principal islands, one of which is Teneriffe, whose 
celebrated Peak, 12,000 feet high, is the great landmark for mariners 
throughout the Atlantic Ocean. These islands produce great quantities 
of wine, though much inferior to Madeira. Population, 200,000. 

does its surface present ? What of the sand wind ? What races of people ? 

, From what countries are the inhabitants ? Where are the Negro tribes found ? 
Who are the Tibboos and Tauricks ? 

What of the African Islands ? The Azores ? Madeira ? The Canaries ? 







240 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The Cape Yerd Islands, belonging to Portugal, are ten in number, 
one of which contains an active volcano. They are not fertile; long 
droughts prevail, and out of a population of 88,000, one-third died of 
famine in 1831. Cotton is the staple production. 

Ascension is a solitary rock, far out at sea, which was long unin¬ 
habited, but a British garrison is now posted there. 

St. Helena, celebrated as the ocean prison of Napoleon, the greatest 
warrior of modem times, has now reverted to its original destination, a 
place of refreshment for returning East India ships. It presents to the 
sea, throughout its whole circuit of twenty-eight miles, a perpendicular 
wall of rock, from six hundred to twelve hundred feet high, with only 
two or three small openings, on one of which is Jamestown. Popula¬ 
tion, 3000. 

Madagascar, one of the largest and finest islands in the world, is 
eight hundred and forty miles long, and two hundred and twenty in its 
greatest breadth. The interior is traversed by a chain of very elevated 
mountains, beneath which are fertile valleys and extensive savannahs, 
covered with cattle. 

The forests abound with beautiful trees, 
palms, ebony, dyewoods, enormous bamboos, 
orange, and citron, while the plains are fruit¬ 
ful in rice, sugar, and silk, and fitted for all 
the productions of tropical climates. The 
fruit of the tanghinia venenaflua [Fig. 205] 
is a deadly poison, used for the destruction of 
criminals. 

The population of Madagascar is estimated 
at 4,000,000, who are described as a gay, 
thoughtless, and voluptuous people, consist¬ 
ing of mixed races, but little removed from 
the barbarous state. 

The island of Bourbon, belonging to 
France, is about four hundred miles east of 
Madagascar, and consists entirely of the 
heights and slopes of two great mountains, 
one of which contains an active volcano. 
Coffee and cloves succeed well, but sugar is 
the chief object of cultivation. Population, 
97,000. 

Mauritius, or the Isle of France, one 
hundred and twenty miles east of Bourbon, 
now belonging to Great Britain, contains 
„ rugged mountains, which give it a sterile as- 

JJodo, t ig. 20b. pect, but its lower slopes produce coffee, cot¬ 
ton, indigo, and especially sugar. It also sup¬ 
plies the finest ebony in the world, and fine tortoise shell is procured 

Cape Yerd Islands? Ascension? St. Helena? Madagascar? Natural 
productions of Madagascar ? The inhabitants ? The island of Bourbon ? 
Mauritius ? The Sychelle Islands ? The Comoro Islands ? Socotra ? 





AUSTRALASIA. 


241 

on its coast. The dodo, [Fig. 206,] found only in this island, is now 
believed to be extinct. Population, 97,000. 

The Sychelles and Amirantes, nearly north of Madagascar, are 
groups of small islands, little fitted for any culture except cotton, but 
tney abound with cocoa-nuts, and their shores with excellent turtle and 
fish. 

The Comoro Islands, a group of four, between Madagascar and 
the continent, are very elevated and mountainous in the interior, but 
the lower tracts abound with sheep, cattle, and all the tropical grains 
and fruits. 

Socotra, forty leagues east from Cape Guardafui, is governed by a 
sheik, dependent on the Imaum of Muscat. It yields the best aloes in 
the world, and has good harbours, where ships may procure bullocks, 
goats, fish, and excellent dates. 

Map of .Africa .—Which is the largest of the islands near the coast of 
Africa 1 Where is Madagascar 1 What cape at the northern extremity 
of Madagascar? At the southern extremity? What towns on the 
island of Madagascar ? What channel between Madagascar and the 
coast of Africa? Where is the island of Bourbon? Isle of France? 

I The Comoro Islands? Providence? The Sychelle Islands? The 
j island of Socotra? 

W T hich are the principal islands west of Africa? Where are the 
Azores ? Madeira Islands ? Canary Islands ? Cape Verd Islands ? 
Island of St. Matthew ? Ascension 1 St. Helena ? 


AUSTRALASIA. 

Australasia is the name given to a number of large islands 
occupying the western parts of the Pacific, and extending south¬ 
ward from eastern Asia. 

New Holland, also called Australia, the largest island, or 
the least continent in the v orld, presents the most important 
feature in this group, and is about twenty-six hundred miles in 
length, from east to west, and two thousand in breadth, from 
north to south, containing three millions of square miles. 

The mountains of New Holland form a ridge nearly round it. 
They are very rocky, and in many places almost inaccessible; 
the Blue Mountains, especially, tower up almost like a wall. 

Of the rivers, the Hawkesbury, McQuarrie, Hastings, and 
Brisbane are the largest which have been explored, and exten¬ 
sive, shallow lakes have been discovered in the interior. 

The plants of New Holland are in great variety, and though many 
of them possess great beauty, few are endowed with any very valuable 
properties. 

AVhat is Australasia ? What of New Holland ? The mountains ? Rivers ? 
Plants- 1 Animals? What of the kangaroo? The flying opossum? The 

11 









242 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 




In New Holland, every thing relating to natural history is wonder¬ 
ful. The humblest house is fitted up with cedar, the fields are fenced 
with mahogany, and the myrtle is used for fuel; the pears are made 
of wood, with the stalk at the larger end, and the cherry grows with 
the stone on the outside. The swans are black, and the eagles white; 
the kangaroo, an animal between a squirrel and a deer, has five claws 
on its four paws, and three talons on its hind legs, like a bird, and yet 
hops on its tail. The mole lays eggs, and has a duck’s bill. 

The great kangaroo [Fig. 207] is the largest animal, and the total 
absence of such animals as lions, tigers, deer, oxen, horses, and bears, 
is the most striking feature in this region. The flying phalangers, or 
opossums, are even more remarkable than the flying squirrels of 
America. 


Kangaroo, Fig. 207. 


Duckbill, Fig. 208. 


The duckbills [Fig. 208] long excited the astonishment of natural¬ 
ists. These creatures have the perfect bill of a duck engrafted on the 
body of a mole-like animal. They also lay eggs, ana suckle their 
young; their feet are webbed, and they spend a great part of their 
time in the water. 

The dingo, or New Holland dog, is the 
only native domestic animal, and it does not 
bark. The dog-faced opossum appears to 
be peculiar to Van Dieman’s Land. 

Of the birds, the emu, one of the ostrich 
tribe, is the largest. Parrots, and other kinds 
of birds, are numerous, among which the su¬ 
perb warbler, the king oriole, and the spotted 
grossbeak [Fig. 209] are the most remark¬ 
able. 

The coast of New Holland, with some of 
Grossbeak, Fig. 209. the adjacent islands, was discovered by the 
Dutch in 1606, but it was not till 1788 that 
the British colony for convicts was established at Botany Bay, which 
was afterwards removed to Port Jackson, in New South Wales. 

The greater part of the coast of New Holland presents an aspect 
the most arid and dreary, but some parts of the interior are sufficiently 
fertile, though not a seventh part has yet been explored. 


duckbills ? Dingo ? The birds ? What nation discovered New Holland ? 
What nation colonized it ? What is the aspect of the coast ? How were the 





AUSTRALASIA. 


243 


The deportation of convicts, for crimes, was the mode by which the 
settlements were first effected, though voluntary emigrants, of late 
i years, in considerable numbers, have settled in that distant region. 

Wheat, maize, barley, oats, and potatoes are the principal crops of 
the English settlers, and abundance of horses, cattle, and sheep are 
raised, while the chase produces the flesh of the kangaroo, emu, and 
wild turkey, all of which are good for food. 

Manufactures have made considerable progress in New Holland, and 
the commerce is extensive, considering the small amount of population. 
The imports are chiefly British manufactures, tropical produce, wine, 
and tea, and the exports whale oil, seal oil, wool, and wheat. 

Fish, crabs, and oysters are very abundant; seals are killed for their 
oil and skin, and whales, of large size, form an important branch of 
fishery. 

The most important mineral of New Holland is coal, of which a 
very extensive formation has been discovered in New South Wales. 

The European population of New Holland is rapidly increas¬ 
ing, and in New South Wales now amounts to 60,000, and in 
Van Dieman’s Land to 33,000. The native population, esti¬ 
mated at 100,000, consists of Papuans, or Oriental Negroes, in 
the most savage state, thinly scattered over this vast region. 

Religious instruction, the establishment of schools, and the cultiva¬ 
tion of literature have received considerable attention, and are all in a 
state of advancement. 

New South Wales is the principal British colony; Van Dieman’s 
Land is the next in importance, while the Swan River, and one or two 
other settlements, maintain only a doubtful footing. 

Sidney, [Fig. 210,] the 
capital of the new south- 
I ern world, is situated on a 
cove which opens from 
the spacious basin of Port 
Jackson. 

Hobartstown, next to 
Sidney, is the largest town 
, in the British settlements 
in this region. It is de¬ 
lightfully situated on the 
river Derwent, and is 
built on two hills, between 
which runs a fine stream, 
from the heights of the 
Table Mountain which towers above it. Population, 13,000. 

New Zealand is a large island, one thousand miles in length, 
separated into two parts by Cook’s Strait, with a chain of moun- 

I settlements effected ? What crops and domestic animals ? What of the ma- 
f. nufactures ? Commerce ? The fishery ? What mineral ? What of the 
European population ? Native population ? Which is the principal British 
I colony ? W hich next in importance ? What other settlements r What ot 
Sidney ? Hobartstown ? Can you describe New Zealand ? What of the 



Sidney, Fig. 210. 







244 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


tains ten thousand or twelve thousand feet high, buried, for two- 
thirds of their height, in perpetual snow. The valleys are fer¬ 
tile and enchanting, while the middle region is covered with 
forests of gigantic trees. 

The natives of New Zealand belong 1 to the Malay race, and are a 
fine race of savages, who tatoo their bodies, and are proved, beyond a 
doubt, to be cannibals. 

The New Zealand hemp is a very valuable plant, from which the 
natives manufacture very strong cordage; flax may be obtained in any 
quantity; abundance of fine timber is easily procured, and the country 
is rich in mineral and vegetable productions. 

New Guinea, next to New Holland, is the largest island of Aus¬ 
tralasia, being fourteen hundred miles long. It is inhabited by Papuans, 
with the still ruder race of Haraforas in the interior. From the little 
that is known of it, it appears to be one of the finest countries in ex¬ 
istence. 

New Britain, New Ireland, and some others, compose a group in¬ 
habited by Papuans. The archipelago called the Solomon Islands is 
inhabited by Papuans, with a mixture of Malays. 

The New Hebrides are a group generally covered with high moun¬ 
tains, some of which contain volcanoes. The inhabitants are chiefly 
Papuans. New Caledoniais traversed hy a continuous range of moun¬ 
tains, and inhabited by a dwarfish race of Papuans. 

Map of the Pacific Ocean .—Which is the largest island, or least con¬ 
tinent, in the world 1 What large island, besides New Holland, is 
included in Australasia, or Australia] How is New Guinea situated, 
with respect to New Holland I Where is New Zealand ? New Cale¬ 
donia! The New Hebrides? Solomon Islands? New Britain? 
New Ireland ? Van Dieman’s Land ? 

What capes on the eastern coast of New Holland ? What capes on 
the western coast? What other capes? What two capes on New 
Zealand? Where is Torres’ Strait? Bass’ Strait? Cook’s Strait? 
Where is the Gulf of Carpentaria? Botany Bay ? Spencer’s Gulf? 

What part of New Holland is called New South Wales ? Where 
is Sidney ? What town on Van Dieman’s Land ? Where is the Swan 
River colony ? Where is the town of Perth ? Albany ? 


POLYNESIA. 

Polynesia, or “ The Many Isles,” includes the numerous 
groups with which a great part of the Pacific Ocean is studded. 
These islands are among the most fruitful and smiling regions 

natives ? What productions ? What is the extent of New Guinea ? What 
< f the inhabitants ? What of New Britain ? The Solomon Islands ? The 
New Hebrides ? New Caledonia ? 

What does Polynesia include ? What is the general character of these 



POLYNESIA. 


245 


on the face of the globe. Several of them contain very lofty 
| mountains, some of which are volcanoes, while others, reared 
by the coral insect, are low, and almost on a level with the sur¬ 
face of the ocean. 

The numerous groups of islands afford a 
very varied vegetation, among which is a con¬ 
siderable number of highly useful plants. 

The bread fruit [Fig. 211 is, to the natives 
I of these islands, the principal article of diet, 
and the wood and resin of the tree on which 
it grows are both highly useful. 

The low coral islands produce cocoa-nuts 
in the greatest abundance, which, after the 
bread fruit, is the most valuable to the na¬ 
tives. The yam, taro, plantain, banana, 
sugar-cane, citrons, tamarinds, pine-apples, Bread Fruit, Fig. 211. 
j guavas, figs, custard apples, and many other 
i tropical fruits, are produced in the greatest 
perfection. 

The root of the dracena terminalis, [Fig. 

212,] called by the natives the ti root, is used 
for procuring, by distillation, a spirituous 
liquor, in which they indulge to the greatest 
excess. 

The sandal wood of these islands, though 
; a different species from that of the East In- ~ 

! dies, affords the principal article of export, 
being carried to Cliina tor the purpose of pre¬ 
paring incense to bum in the idol temples. Dracena Terminalis, 

The quadrupeds of the Polynesian Islands Fig- 212 * 

t are so few that they scarcely deserve notice. 

None of these islands possess a single species of the kangaroo, though 
the birds have a general resemblance to those of New Holland. 

Some of these islands were discovered in the early part of the six¬ 
teenth century, but it was not till the voyages of the celebrated Cap¬ 
tain Cook, between 17G7 and 1779, that any satisfactory knowledge 
of them was obtained. 

European intercourse, within the last few years, and espe¬ 
cially the efforts of the missionaries, have had a remarkable 
influence on the people of these islands, who have nearly all 
abandoned their cruel, idolatrous rites, have embraced Chris¬ 
tianity, and are making rapid advances in the arts of civilized 
life. 

The natural advantages possessed by these islands, as to soil 
and climate, are not surpassed by those of any other region. 

islands ? What of the vegetation ? The bread fruit ? What other produc¬ 
tions ? What of the ti root ? Sandal wood ? What of the animals ? When 
were these islands discovered ? What effects on the people from the efforts 
of the missionaries ? What of the natural advantages of these islands ? 










246 


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Many of the mountains are clothed with the most majestic 
forests, and the plains are adapted to the finest species of tropical 
produce. 

The natives, from the bark of trees, prepare cloths of considerable 
beauty, while from other substances very fine mats are made, and 
feathers are often formed into fantastic head-dresses. 

The people of Polynesia are generally ruled by chiefs, who appear 
to possess an absolute authority. No precise estimate of the popula¬ 
tion has been attempted, but it is probable the whole of Polynesia does 
not contain more than 500,000 inhabitants. 

The people of Polynesia are, in general, gay, lively, courteous, and 
friendly; and the furious wars, infanticide, and cannibalism, which till 
lately prevailed, have nearly ceased. Dancing is the favourite amuse¬ 
ment, and tatooing is practised as in New Zealand. 

The native religion of these islands may be ranked among the dark¬ 
est forms of superstition; not only animals were offered in profusion, 
but human victims were universally sacrificed on the bloody altars of 
the Polynesian divinities. The morais, or temples, were long, low 
enclosures, commonly in the depths of forests. 

The numerous islands which stud this part of the Pacific 
Ocean may be divided into the great groups of the Society, Sand¬ 
wich, Marquesas, Friendly, Caroline, and Marianne Islands, 
the other clusters being regarded as appendages of these great 
archipelagoes. 

The Society Islands, though not the largest, are the most beautiful, 
most fruitful, and those in which civilization and polished manners 
have made the greatest progress. The people of these islands were 
the first who embraced Christianity. Otaheite, or Tahiti, the largest 
of the group, ranks always as the brightest gem of the Pacific. 
Oroeno, the highest mountain, rises to the height of 10,800 feet. 

Of the Sandwich Islands, Owhyhee, the largest of the group, is re¬ 
markable for the murder of the celebrated Captain Cook. Mouna 
Roa rises to the height of 16,000 feet, and Mouna Koa to the height 
of 18,400 feet, the tops of both these mountains being covered with 
perpetual snow. The volcano of Peli, on the flank of Mouna Roa, is 
one of the most awful in any part of the world. 

The people of the Sandwich Islands have embraced Christianity, 
and several missionaries from the United States are now settled there. 
Honolulu, the capital, contains 5000 inhabitants, and is much fre¬ 
quented by whale ships and trading vessels in the Pacific. 

The cluster of islands called the Archipelago of Mend an a, con¬ 
sists of the Marquesas and Washington Islands. These islands are 
elevated and mountainous, and the people remarkable for their fine 
forms, and for the fierceness of their characters. Population, 50,000. 

The Friendly Islands have a remarkably rich soil, which is care- 


What native manufactures ? How are the people governed ? What of their 
character ? The native religion ? Which are the principal groups of 
islands ? What of the Society Islands ? Sandwich Islands ? The people ? 


ISLANDS IN THE POLAR SEAS. 


247 


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fully cultivated by the natives, who rank among the most respectable 
of the South Sea Islanders. Population, 100,000. 

The Caroline Islands form a numerous range, extending about 
two thousand miles. A few are high and peaked, but most of them 
low, and of coral formation. The Pelew Islands belong to this group. 

The Marianne Islands, or Ladrones, are moderately elevated, and 
have been highly celebrated for their beauty and fertility. The Spa¬ 
niards have nearly exterminated the natives. Population, 5400, com¬ 
posed chiefly of Spaniards, Tagalas from Manilla, and Indians from 
Peru. 


Map of the Pacific Ocean .—Which are the principal groups of islands 
belonging to Polynesia, south of the equator ? Where are the Society 
Islands situated ? Their latitude and longitude ? Which are the prin¬ 
cipal islands of this group ? Where are the Friendly Islands ? Their 
latitude and longitude! The Fejee Islands'? Marquesas Islands? 
Which are the principal islands of the Marquesas group ? Where is 
the Dangerous Archipelago ? Where is St. Michael’s Island ? Pit¬ 
cairn’s Island ? 

Which are the principal groups of islands belonging to Polynesia, 
north of the equator ? What is the latitude and longitude of the Sand¬ 
wich Islands ? Which are the principal islands of this group ? Where 
is Christmas Island? Where are the Mulgrave Islands? Pelew 
Islands ? Caroline Islands ? Ladrone Islands f Anson’s Archipelago ? 


ISLANDS IN THE POLAR SEAS. 

The Polar Islands are situated partly in the seas round the 
North Pole, and partly in the seas round the South Pole. 

In the North Polar regions, commencing at the eastward, we 
find Nova Zembla, then Spitzbergen, Greenland, and lastly the 
range of Georgian Islands, which include Cornwallis and Mel¬ 
ville Islands, and Bank’s Land. 

In the Antarctic Ocean there are some considerable islands, 
particularly New Georgia, New South Shetland, and the New 
Orkneys. 

In these regions snow falls occasionally in the midst of summer, 
and before the end of autumn every object is buried beneath snow and 
ice, which continues for six, seven, or eight months, according to the 
latitude. 

In summer, when the sun becomes vertical, these icy masses in part 
dissolve, and often burst asunder, with a tremendous crash. In some 
situations, the ice of successive years is piled into glaciers, which rise 

Principal town ? What of the Archipelago of Mendana ? Friendly Islands ? 
Caroline Islands ? Marianne Islands 

Where are the Polar Islands ? What islands in the North Polar regions ? 
In the South Polar regions ? What of the climate ? What effects from the 


ir 













248 


ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF GEOGRAPHY. 

to a great height, and their 
foundations being under¬ 
mined by the waves, they 
descend into the waters, 
forming islands of ice, 
[Fig. 213,] which are 
often carried by the wind 
and tide into the open 
sea. 

For two, three, or four 
months, the sun in these 
regions never appears 
Ice Island, Fig. 213. above the horizon during 

winter, and one continued 


night reigns, though the moon and stars shine through the clear, frosty 
air with peculiar brightness. 

The land, in these regions, is dreary and barren, but the sea and its 
shores abound with a profusion of animal life, and the seal, walrus, 
and above all the whale, yield important and valuable commodities. 
For the pursuit of these animals, fleets of large ships, well equipped 
with boats, lines, harpoons, and spears, are annually sent into these 


regions. 

Human society, in this bleak extremity of the earth, where it exists, 
is in the rudest form. The soil refuses to man any support, but the 
seal, walrus, and other inhabitants of the ocean, yield a precarious, 
though not a scanty supply of food. 

All the Arctic regions are peopled by the race called the Esquimaux, 
but the greater number of them, not belonging to America, is found on 
Greenland. 

Greenland was once supposed to be united to the American conti¬ 
nent, but late discoveries prove it to be an immense island. The do¬ 
minion of Greenland is claimed by Denmark, a few Danes are scat¬ 
tered along the coast, and the Moravian missionaries have laboured- 
with some success for the conversion of the natives. 

The islands of the Southern Polar regions extend chiefly southward 
from the American continent, and present the same general character as 
the Arctic islands, though their shores are still more crowded with 
those huge animals whose oil renders them a tempting prize. 

The walrus is here replaced by the sea elephant, a liuger animal, 
and richer in oil, and the seals have fine furred skins, while the shores 
are also distinguished by legions of sea birds, among which the pen¬ 
guin and albatross are the most remarkable. 


Map of the World .—Where is Greenland 1 Iceland 1 Nova Zembla ? 
Spitzfcergen 1 In which hemisphere is each of them ? Where are the 
Falklana Islands ? Aurora Island 1 New Georgia 1 ? In what hemi¬ 
sphere are they I 

heat of summer ? What of the length of day and night ? What contrast be¬ 
tween the land and sea ? What marine animals ? What of the state of so¬ 
ciety P What race of people in the Arctic regions ? What of Greenland ? 
What of the islands in the South Polar regions ? What marine animals p 



































































































































